A man has been charged in connection with an incident on Cumbernauld Road, Chryston, which saw residents temporarily evacuated after a fire damaged a gas service pipe.
Police arrested a 29-year-old and charged him in relation to the episode. Emergency services were mobilised shortly before lunchtime on 21 July when the blaze and a gas leak were reported at a dwelling on the street.
What happened and how services responded
Firefighters extinguished a bin fire that had been started close to where the gas service was damaged. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it sent three appliances to the scene and crews remained until they were satisfied the area was safe, leaving at around 4pm.
“Thanks to all the residents and motorists for their patience whilst we dealt with this incident.”
The force of the blaze did not cause reported casualties, but the integrity of a gas pipe was affected. SGN engineers attended and isolated the gas supply to four properties as a precaution, completing repairs before being stood down by other emergency services.
- Incident reported and services alerted: around 12.30pm on 21 July
- Fire crews extinguished the bin fire and made the scene safe
- SGN isolated gas supplies to four properties and carried out repairs
- Road closure and resident evacuations were in place while the response was ongoing
Local impact and precautions
The closure of Cumbernauld Road and the precautionary evacuation of nearby properties disrupted traffic and likely affected residents’ routines for several hours. Police cordons and the presence of utility engineers are measures intended to eliminate immediate danger and allow technical works to restore safe supplies.
Both the SFRS and SGN confirmed there were no reported injuries tied to the event. A spokesperson for SGN explained their role on site:
“Our engineers have isolated the gas supply to four properties for safety before making the necessary repairs to make the site safe.”
What residents should take from this
Incidents that combine fire and infrastructure damage carry a heightened risk, which is why the response involved multiple agencies coordinating on scene. Anyone living nearby who experienced disruption or who has concerns about gas safety should contact SGN or the emergency services for advice. Police thanked the public for their patience while crews dealt with the situation.
| Time (21 July) | Action |
|---|---|
| ~12:30pm | Fire reported; Cumbernauld Road closed; residents evacuated |
| Afternoon | SFRS extinguished bin fire; SGN isolated gas to four properties |
| ~4:00pm | Fire crews left after securing the area; SGN completed repairs |
The case now proceeds through the courts following the charging of the 29-year-old. Local services continue to review the incident and its causes as part of routine follow-up work.
