Kilbirnie Street fire

It was a brick built construction of ground, first and attic floors, connected by internal stairs and a goods lift.

Divisional Officer Quinn arrived soon after, and after early investigations with Carroll, called for reinforcements by "Making Pumps 4".

Glasgow Salvage Corps despatched a vehicle to the scene as part of the initial attendance, and their men began their normal fireground task of attempting to protect stock from fire and smoke damage by covering with plastic sheeting.

Crews using breathing apparatus ("BA"), searching the building for the seat of the fire, found conditions very difficult with thick smoke and the crowded layout of the premises hampering progress.

This was effected under difficult circumstances, from ladders pitched against the building, and thick smoke began emitting through the hole created.

At around 12:00 with the initial crews becoming exhausted, Divisional Officer Quinn requested the attendance of an emergency tender, for the additional breathing apparatus and fresh men.

As he was leaving, Fireman Rook was asked by an officer (who possibly had not heard the order to evacuate) to assist in a flare up of fire in the attic.

Between around 12:05 and 12:20, Leading Fireman Crofts, Firemen Bermingham, Finlay, Hooper and McMillan donned breathing apparatus and, with Quinn, returned to the attic floor.

Fireman Murray, not in BA and suffering burns, had to leave the scene, and was assisted from the building by Firemen Welsh and Smith who managed to drag him clear.

A roll call in the street showed who was missing, and further rescue attempts were made from ladders through the first floor windows.

At this inquiry, it became apparent that the fire spread across the hardboard clad first floor ceiling led to the flashover that ended up engulfing the men who died.