The devastating aftermath of the gutted inside of Edinburgh's iconic Jenners building has been revealed in bleak pictures after it went up in flames. Emergency services raced to the scene at 11.29am after receiving reports of a commercial building fire at Rose Street at around 11.30am on Monday January 23.
Ten fire engines, including a high reach, were mobilised and the blaze was eventually brought under control. However, five firefighters were injured, including one critically, while tackling the inferno and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
A police officer was also taken to the same hospital with smoke inhalation, but later discharged.
Authorities remain at the scene this afternoon and the east end of Rose Street is closed between South St David Street and Rose Street Lane North. Two nearby businesses also remain closed.
Police Scotland say the cause of the fire has yet to be determined and that enquiries are 'ongoing'.
Pictures taken inside the building this morning show the full extent of the damage, with wooden structures left completely charred and walls covered in thick soot.
The floor is also covered in debris and boarded-up windows left with gaping holes.
In a statement released in the hours after the blaze, the fire service's interim chief officer Ross Haggart said: "The fire at the Jenners building in Edinburgh is a very serious and complex incident and regrettably I can confirm that five of our colleagues have been taken to hospital for treatment and one remains in a critical condition."
Scotland's community safety minister Elena Whitham praised hero firefighters wo attended the scene, saying: "Their sheer bravery and professionalism must be commended.
"Scotland's communities are lucky to have our valued firefighters, who stand ready to put their personal safety at risk in order to save others. We will continue to monitor the situation closely."
In June 2022, plans to restore Jenners to its "former glory" and turn the building into a luxury hotel were given the green light by councillors.
Key aspects such as the central atrium and outside signage were expected to be kept in place, while plans said the building would undergo significant construction work to create 96 boutique hotel rooms on the upper floors.
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