Fire hits Edinburgh's famous Jenners store due for Chipperfield ...
Smoke began pouring out of the basement of the building, which once housed the oldest department store in the world and is set to become a new hotel as part of a four-year revamp, at about 11.30am yesterday morning (23 January)
One firefighter is thought to have been seriously injured in the fire. Video footage appears to show a soot-covered firefighter struggling to walk and being helped out of the smoking building by colleagues.
The extent of the damage to the building itself is unclear, although the time needed to put the fire out suggests a serious blaze. As of 5pm on Monday, firefighters had not confirmed that the fire was out.
The architects have been asked for comment on how the fire has affected the redevelopment.
Our Interim Chief Officer Ross Haggart has issued the below update.
"The fire at Jenners, Edinburgh, is serious and complex and regrettably I can confirm five of our colleagues have been taken to hospital and one remains in a critical condition."
➡️https://t.co/2d02r3D0Rt pic.twitter.com/FnTiBJTelT
— Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (@fire_scot) January 23, 2023
Firefighters have not said how the fire started.
A spokesperson for the Scottish fire and rescue service 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.’
Founded in 1838, Jenners was one of the oldest department stores in the world to continuously trade from the same site. The original building burned down in 1892, replaced by a new store on the same location in 1895. But the Category A-listed building closed its doors in May 2020 and has not reopened since.
The 17,000m² building was sold in 2017 to the owner of the fashion group Bestseller for £53 million and in 2022, David Chipperfield Architects won planning permission to turn part of the building into a 96-bedroom boutique hotel, together with a bar and restaurant, above an overhauled shopping areas.
The project team also includes executive architect 3DReid and Glasgow-based conservation specialist Loader Montieth.
A spokesperson for 3DReid said: ‘We have no more details than are being publicised and it would be wrong for us or anyone to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident. For now, our thoughts are focused on those involved.'
The scheme is backed by Anders Holch Povlsen’s property company AAA United and includes restoring the historic façade, revamping and partly remodelling the linked 1960s Princes Street building and adding a new floor, frontage and roof terrace to 10-14 Rose Street and a single-storey roof extension to the 1895 and 1903 Jenners buildings.
Well Jenners is currently on fire #Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/6c7epaN4zS
— Robson Summers (@Robson_S98) January 23, 2023
A spokesperson for the Cockburn Association, an Edinburgh heritage group, said after the fire broke out: ‘Jenners is a really significant building in Edinburgh and not just in terms of being where it is and what it is.
‘Generations of people have grown up with it and it’s an icon of the city. When it did close down it was a blow to the city. It’s the oldest department store in the world.’
Edinburgh council leader Cammie Day added: ‘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.'
We’re shocked and concerned to hear that fire has broken out in Edinburgh's famous Jenners department store building. 50 firefighters are reported to be on the scene.
The store closed in 2021 but received planning permission last year for restoration & conversion into a hotel. https://t.co/VRIAZHeYOL
— SAVEBritainsHeritage (@SAVEBrit) January 23, 2023
