A LARGE fire has broken out in the former Jenners department store in Edinburgh.
Footage posted on social media shows clouds of smoke billowing from the building and dozens of firefighters in attendance.
Employees working in nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution and buses are currently being diverted away from the bus station.
Around 50 firefighters are tackling a blaze at the historic former Jenners department store in Edinburgh’s city centre. https://t.co/etVCUmrq1p pic.twitter.com/eicGy6WSxg
— STV News (@STVNews) January 23, 2023
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 11.29am on Monday, January 23 to reports of a commercial 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.”
Jenners on Fire pic.twitter.com/CVYJaBNxZZ
— Norrie Work 🏴 🇪🇺🦄 🇱🇻 🇺🇦 (@CllrNormanWork) January 23, 2023
The iconic building was home to the Jenners department store for more than 100 years, which was Scotland's oldest independent department store until 2005 when it was acquired by House of Fraser.
The building closed in January 2021 and has since been purchased by Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen who intends to turn it into a hotel and leisure facility.
The City of Edinburgh council approved plans for a 96-bedroom boutique hotel as well as a gym and a roof terrace bar.
“I work at one of the businesses nearby and I nipped out for lunch and tried to get in but we have been evacuated,” one worker said.
“I was aware of the sirens and it was one of my team that said Jenners was on fire.
“The building’s beautiful. It’s such a beautiful piece of architecture, it’s such a shame, especially with it shutting down and lying kind of empty.”
