A firefighter is in a essential situation following a blaze on the former Jenners division retailer constructing in Edinburgh metropolis centre.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) mentioned 5 firefighters have been taken to hospital for remedy with one apparently combating for his or her life.
The households of all these affected have been made conscious.
Emergency crews have been alerted to the “very serious and complex incident” within the metropolis’s Rose Street shortly earlier than 11.30am on Monday.
SFRS mentioned 22 home equipment have been mobilised to sort out the flames. In an replace afterward, a chief officer mentioned 11 home equipment and different specialist assets stay in attendance.
On arrival, firefighters discovered the long-lasting constructing “well alight”.
Pictures and video taken on the scene confirmed smoke billowing from the class A-listed constructing.
Marks & Spencer and the Mercure Hotel, in Princes Street, have been closed as firefighters work within the space, and a few buildings have been evacuated.
South St David Street and quite a lot of surrounding roads have been closed to site visitors and pedestrians within the meantime.
Lothian Buses additionally warned that because of the incident, a few of its companies have been being diverted.
A Police Scotland spokesperson mentioned: “Please avoid the area if possible and follow directions regarding alternative routes.”
No casualties have been reported. Pic: @Whacko1875
Ross Haggart, interim chief officer with SFRS, mentioned: “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.
“The households of all these affected have been made conscious.
“We currently remain at the scene with a total of 11 appliances and other specialist resources in attendance.”
The constructing, which Jenners moved into in 1895, is without doubt one of the greatest identified within the capital.
The closure of the shop, which was then managed by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, was introduced in 2021.
Renovations are ongoing to remodel it right into a resort, supported by a agency owned by vogue billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen.
Source: information.sky.com”
