FIREFIGHTERS are tackling a major blaze at a historic building with links to Glasgow's shipbuilding past in Partick, Glasgow.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service said the have taken dozens of calls alerting them to the fire at the B listed Scotway House, a derelict red brick listed building near the Clyde.

The 19th century 14-bay office block with French Renaissance entrance bay,  is on the Historic Environment Scotland's  Building at Risk list.  

The building is understood to have suffered a fire just four months ago that removed part of the slated roof

There were no reports of injuries.

The smoke from the fire in what are now disused offices once built for David and William Henderson and Co, engineers and iron shipbuilders on Castlebank Street has been seen across Glasgow.

Glasgow Times:

The area round the building has been cordoned off as the flames could be seen shooting through the roof.

The fire service say they do not believe any people are in the building, but police have been alerted to set up traffic restrictions in the area.

A crowd of around 20 people have gathered around the scene some taking pictures and taking video.

"It's really quite serious," said one onlooker.  "There are a lot of blowing burning cinders coming off it to the point they are having to cordon off the area.

"There are people getting the burning cinders in their hair, because they are standing too close to the site.  I don't think people are realising the dangers of being this close.

"The roof has completely gone now, caved in."

In 2002, there was a move to demolish the building and three years later, Glasgow Harbour requested permission to dismantle it brick by brick and rebuild it in the heart of the development as a pub and restaurant.

But, following discussions with Historic Scotland, it was decided the building should stay on its site.

By 2007, it was part of a construction site with all the windows boarded-over and the site is secured. It is understood there were also plans to make it part of the entrance square to the new Riverside Museum.

Three years later, Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust carried out a feasibility study to assess the suitability of Scotway House for a new Scottish Music Hall of Fame.

Glasgow Times:

Nothing happened and by 2012, the winter storms had damaged the roof and the building had been the target of vandalism and attempts to set fire to it.

The Buildings at Risk Register described the building as being in poor condition.

The register has been in operation in Scotland since 1990 in response to a concern at the growing number of listed buildings and buildings in Conservation Areas that were vacant and had fallen into a state of disrepair.

The register provides information on properties of architectural or historic merit throughout the country that are considered to be at risk.

Castlebank Street has been closed between Pointhouse Place, at the Transport Museum, and Hayburn Street due to the fire.

Glasgow Times:

How the building looked before the blaze took hold

News of the fire shocked Keava Fraser a 22-year-old Edinburgh Napier University interior and spacial design student who did a redeisign of the building as the focus for a major project which went on display on Thursday night.

"She just said that 'my building' has gone up in smoke," said her mother Julia Ranger.