IT is too early to know if the historic Mackintosh Building can be saved, the Evening Times can reveal.

As experts from across Scotland vowed to help resurrect the building after it was devastated by fire, a council spokesman said although they were working with other agencies it was too soon to know what the eventual outcome would be.

He said: "It is still too early to say if it will be possible to save the building, but we are working with various agencies to do everything we possibly can to preserve this Glasgow icon."

A campaign to restore the iconic Mackintosh Building was launched yesterday by architecture leaders, the city council and the Scottish Government within hours of the blaze breaking out.

At the height of the fire flames shot into the sky and windows blew out. Emergency services were called to the Mackintosh Building, in Renfrew Street, just before 12.30pm yesterday.

A dramatic operation by firefighters saw a group of people, who were stuck inside a lift in the building, led to safety. It is understood no-one was injured but some people were treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire is believed to have started in the basement, where students were preparing their final year degree show.

The deadline for submissions was 5pm yesterday and the exhibition was due to open next month.

Some students speculated that the building's sprinkler system - which should have been activated in the event of an alarm - may have been turned off. Police sealed off the street, but quickly had to expand the cordon after flames caused windows to blow out.

Loud crashes were heard on the street while thick black smoke billowed across the city, as firefighters fought to control the escalating blaze. Fire teams used three aerial pumps to try and douse the flames.

Scottish Fire and Rescue said the operation involved trying to salvage parts of the building.

Chief fire officer Alasdair Hay said: "At this point we can't establish what the cause is but we have specialist teams working with Police Scotland to establish the cause.

"We've had a significant fire within the building and at this point we're still extinguishing that fire. We've had firefighters inside working under very arduous conditions and at a later point we'll be able to determine and describe the conditions more fully.

"There has been significant spread within the building but we've brought all our resources to bear on it."

He said there were 17 units from Glasgow at the scene and specialist units from across the country.

When asked if all student work has been destroyed he said: "It's too early to establish that."

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "The Mackintosh Building is a Glasgow icon.

"It's heartbreaking that a fire has caused damage to this world renowned building."

rachel.loxton@eveningtimes.co.uk