Fire crews have raced to Edinburgh city centre to battle a blaze at the old Jenners building.
Emergency services are currently on the scene at Rose Street after being alerted to a large building fire around 11.30am on Monday.
Fire fighters are working to extinguish the inferno as ten appliances, including a high reach, were mobilised to the scene.
One witness who saw the blaze break out claims he was told by a Jenners workman that a severed gas pipe had sparked the fire.
Andy Knox, a stonemason from Edinburgh, said: “I was coming out of Sainsbury’s in Rose Street opposite Jenners at about 11.30am when construction workers were coming out of there.
"There was about eight of them. They were calling the fire brigade while they were standing and talking.
“I asked one of the workmen what was happening and he said someone had cut through a gas pipe and started a fire. They were doing a strip out in the building.
“All the workmen had got out and they seemed fairly calm. There was smoke coming out of the ground floor but I couldn’t see any flames.
“The first two fire engines turned up within five minutes. The firefighters started getting people back on the street.
“Within about 15 minutes the smoke was pretty bad. It was billowing out but I never saw any flames.”
No casualties have as of yet been reported following the fire at the iconic Edinburgh department store. One firefighter could be seen being treated by a medic as he sat up on the ground where he was wrapped in a blanket.
Photos and video from the area show thick smoke billowing from the building as numerous fire fighters can be spotted on the street with hose jets.
It is understood road closures are in place around the area with South St David Street closed.
In June 2022, plans to restore Jenners to its "former glory" were given the go ahead by councillors who unanimously granted permission for work to turn the building into a luxury hotel.
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 alterations to form a boutique 96-bedroom hotel on the upper floors.
A new seventh floor was expected to be added to the 1905 extension on the corner of South St David Street and Rose Street to make space for a gym, plant enclosure and roof terrace bar.
In the lower section, plans stated the building would remain in traditional use as a shopping destination with retail spaces and food and drink outlets from the basement to the first floor.
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.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: Around 11.35 am on Monday, 23 January 2023, police were called to assist Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with road closures following a fire within a building on South St David Street, Edinburgh.
"Police and emergency services are currently at the scene. A number of roads have been closed in the surrounding area as a result.
"Please avoid the area if possible and heed advice re alternative routes. No further details at this time."
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