Huge blaze at iconic city building as smoke fills street and crews rush to scene
Fire crews have rushed to the scene after a huge blaze broke out at an iconic city centre building.
Emergency services were dispatched to the old Jenners department store in Edinburgh after being alerted to a large building fire around 11.30am on Monday.
Up to 40 firefighters and ten units including a high-reach have been used to tackle the fire, while a number of people have been evacuated from nearby offices.
No casualties have been reported.
One photograph from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the building in full view of the streets below as fire service personnel wielded hose jets.
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A huge blaze has broken out at the old Jenners department store building in EdinburghCrowds of shoppers could be seen gathering nearby to watch the emergency response unfold.
Edinburgh bus station has been closed until further notice. A number of surrounding roads in the city centre have also been affected, with Rose Street and South St David Street both closed.
Edinburgh Police asked people to "avoid the area if possible" and "follow directions regarding alternative routes."
Ten firefighting units have been used to tackle the fire (Twitter/ @Whacko1875)
No casualties have been reported (Twitter/ @GillianW_Writer)A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 11.29am on Monday, January 23 to reports of a building fire at Rose Street, Edinburgh.
“Operations Control immediately mobilised two appliances to the scene and on arrival firefighters found a building well alight.
“A further eight appliances, including a high reach, were mobilised and crews remain on scene as they work to extinguish the fire. No casualties have been reported.”
Firefighters entered the building with hoses while workers were evacuated from nearby offices (Twitter/ @connal99)
One eyewitness described the scene surrounding the fire as "carnage" with "vehicles, people and road closures" (Twitter/ @GillianW_Writer)Speaking from the scene of the blaze, one eyewitness told Edinburgh Live: “I work over the road and noticed the smoke billowing from Jenners and came out to see what was happening. There's been work going on in there for ages so God knows what the damage will be. Terrible for such an iconic building.”
Another local person working nearby said: "My office is over at Andrews Square from the fire, and you can't see a thing for smoke. Bus station closed and evacuated. It's carnage in surrounding area with vehicles, people and road closures."
Workers were evacuated from nearby offices during the emergency response (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)One woman from Edinburgh who was evacuated from her office revealed she could see people "choking" in the street from the smoke, telling the newspaper: "I saw grey smoke coming out of the first floor for the first ten minutes and then it quickly reached the top floor. You could see that there was quite a lot of activity in the building and they were trying to contain it."
"It looked like it was escalating quite quickly, when I went to go into the lifts in the building, you could smell smoke really badly like the fire was there - It was terrible."
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Others described watching firefighters in oxygen masks entering the building with their hoses after unfurling them outside a TK Maxx store.
Ambulance staff were also reported to be wearing protective gear, with one photograph showing a stretcher brought out onto the street.
Smoke could be seen drifting across Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat (Helena Peacock)Local people also took to social media to express their sadness at the potential damage to the landmark, with one user describing it as "such a shame".
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson told Edinburgh Live: "The Scottish Ambulance Service is currently in attendance at a fire in the former Jenners building on Princes Street, Edinburgh, alongside The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland. We received the call at 11.49hrs and have dispatched 14 resources to the scene.”
SNP councillor for the Almond Ward said at around 1.40pm that firefighters had done a "great job in containing the fire" and it appeared to be "out now".
Many roads in Edinburgh city centre have been closed (Twitter/ @anthonyabrown)
Plans to turn the Victorian building into a luxury hotel were approved last year (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)Smoke from the fire could be seen drifting across the Edinburgh skyline from Arthur's Seat hill.
The Jenners department store closed after 183 years in 2021 following the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in the loss of 200 jobs.
Plans were approved last June to restore the Victorian building to its "former glory" by turning it into a luxury hotel.
A Marks & Spencers shop and the nearby Mercure Hotel remained closed as the emergency response continued.
There is a massive fire service presence (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)Speaking in the afternoon, City of Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day said: "It's so sad to see a fire at one of Edinburgh’s most iconic buildings. I’d like to thank the fire service for their speedy response.
"Council officers remain on the scene and are supporting the emergency services and those affected by the fire.
"Understandably, there have been a number of road closures in the area, which has affected transport in the city centre. Please keep an eye on travel messages to make sure you're up-to-date with any changes to your journey.
“Hopefully the damage to the building will be minimal so that restoration work can continue and the building can be enjoyed for another 100 years - and beyond."
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