Fire crews responded to a blaze at BBC Scotland’s headquarters in Glasgow early Friday, forcing the temporary evacuation of the broadcaster’s staff and briefly disrupting radio and television programming.
Fire incident began around 06:30 local time on Friday November 28, 2025, when a fire alarm triggered a full evacuation of the Pacific Quay building, located along the River Clyde. All staff were safely escorted outside as emergency teams arrived within minutes.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said the fire originated in an air-conditioning unit housed in a fifth-floor plant room near the roof. At least seven fire engines were deployed to the scene as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
A security staff member is believed to have first spotted signs of the fire and raised the alarm. Witnesses reported seeing an orange glow through upper-floor windows beside the illuminated BBC Scotland sign.
While the building was cleared, BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast program was taken off air, replaced by pre-recorded music. Morning television bulletins from Scotland were also suspended during the disruption.
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Staff were able to re-enter the building roughly two hours later, and BBC Radio Scotland resumed broadcasting live at about 08:30.
In a statement, a BBC Scotland spokesperson thanked emergency crews for their quick response.
“The blaze was contained and we’re grateful to the emergency services for their swift action,” the spokesperson said. “All our colleagues are safe and well, and our services are now back on air. Thanks to our listeners and viewers for their patience while we restored their program.”
SFRS confirmed the fire was extinguished without injuries, and an investigation into the cause of the air-conditioning malfunction is under way.
The Pacific Quay headquarters, opened in 2007, houses major BBC operations in Scotland, including radio studios, television newsrooms and production facilities. The broadcaster said no significant damage was reported outside the affected plant room, and regular programming has fully resumed.