Staff and customers had to evacuate for their safety.
17:24, 21 Aug 2026Updated 19:39, 21 Aug 2026
Smoke seen over Tesco Extra in Maryhill
A Glasgow Tesco store has been evacuated following a major car fire at an underground car park.
The car, believed to be an electric vehicle, was reported to be on fire near the Maryhill supermarket around 4.21pm on Friday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has two engines on scene to tackle the blaze, and onlookers saw thick black smoke pouring out of the car park entrance.
Witnesses say staff and customers at the store have been quickly evacuated in case the fire spreads. There is no information on how the blaze started.
Police are on the scene, and have cordoned off the car park – which has added to the ongoing traffic problems during the evening rush-hour.
One local resident who lives opposite the store said it was a scene of total panic.
The Tesco Extra in Maryhill has been evacuated because of a fire in the car park
Ryan, 26, an energy consultant, told Glasgow Live: “I was just coming home on the bus and I saw the smoke which looked like it was coming out the roof of the Tesco store.
“Then when I rounded the corner to get to my flat I saw it was a car on fire. It looks like an electric car, although I’ve no idea how it started.
“The staff and customers were being evacuated and it was total panic. They are just standing outside now waiting for the firefighters to finish.”
The burnt out car(Image: Contributed by Tyler)
Christopher, a regular customer at the store, said there was pandemonium when the alarm went off and his sister and six-year old newpohew were left in the toilets by a member of staff who said it would be a false alarm.
“To be fair to them, the alarm goes off in that store maybe foru or five times a year and they evacuate every time, so they are well drilled,” he said.
“My sister had taken my nephew to use the toilet and she said there was a member of staff in when the alarm went off, and the staff member just walked out saying it would be a false alarm and not to worry.
“By the time she came out though the store was practically empty – fortunately a security guard helped her to evacuate.”
The fire could be seen from the street before firefighters arived
And he said smoke could be seen coming into the stores as panicked customers ran outside.
“Panic was definitely the word, there was smoke coming in one of the entrances, and when we got outside the fire chief had to shout at the store staff to clear the area as they were busy taking pictures on their phones,” he said.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 4.21pm to reports of a car on fire at the Tesco supermarket on Maryhill Road in Glasgow. We mobilised two appliances and are still at the scene.”
Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “Our Glasgow Maryhill Extra store is temporarily closed due to a fire in the car park which has now been extinguished. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
We will bring you more on this breaking news story as we get it.