THE horrifying moment when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of a Glasgow pub is still on the minds of emergency workers.

Hundreds of firefighters worked for days during the complex Clutha rescue operation last year.

From desperately trying to rescue people who had become trapped under rubble to working to make the area as safe as possible, teams from across the country were drafted in to help.

Ten people were killed in the tragedy and for George McGrandles, area commander for Glasgow, it was one of the most challenging times of his 25-year fire service career.

But, although he points out how proud he is of his team, he says it is just part of the job.

The 47-year-old was not on duty on Friday, November 29 when the Eurocopter EC 135 came down on the pub at about 10.25pm.

He reported to the site in Stockwell Street, near the River Clyde, at 7am the next day.

"It was very emotional because it was a long three days," says Mr McGrandles in his office at Cowcaddens Fire Station, .

"The Clutha is still fresh in our minds. Ten people lost their lives. It was a tragedy."

The first phase of the operation involved removing people from the bar, which had been packed out as revellers watched ska band Esperanza play.

There were fears, at first, that the aircraft might explode. When it became apparent that would not happen, the concern came over how to work around the helicopter and the stricken building.

Over the next few days, emergency workers formed a guard of honour each time ambulances took away bodies from the site.

Mr McGrandles says: "We saw things that not many people in their lifetimes would see. And it's just part of the job. It's what we do. And that's why we're there.

"We are there to restore normality and we tried to restore normality as quick as feasibly possible, considering there was seven tons of rubble and several tons of helicopter within that building."

The sheer scale of the incident means it is far and above the most significant to hit firefighters in the first year of a national service. But the Glasgow fire chief is sure the rescue response would have unfolded in the same way under Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.

He says: "As far as I am aware, the incident went, as the Scottish Fire and Rescue service, just as well as it would have went under Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.

"And the resources we brought in to help deal with that - we would have brought those resources in anyway."

Since the crash, the Air Accident Investigation Branch has said the helicopter suffered a double engine failure, but the investigation into why that happened is continuing.

Emergency workers were offered counselling in the aftermath of the Clutha tragedy.

Mr McGrandles said the close-knit culture of the fire service meant workers were also helping each other.

He says: "Firefighters are a wonderful part of society and in the station they will counsel themselves.

"They will chat to each other round the canteen table, they will chat about it in the lecture room, they will maybe have an individual debrief for it.

"But the senior officers will also make sure they are looked after and referred to occupational health. It is difference strokes for different people."

The area commander said staff were "outstanding" - but, he says, they offer the same standard at every single incident they are called to.

They are brilliant," he adds. "They would risk their life to save you, there is no doubt about that.

"And that is the service and the culture of the fire service across Scotland."

rachel.loxton@ eveningtimes.co.uk