Fire at historic Debenhams building on Princes Street

A major fire engulfed the historic former Debenhams building on Princes Street in Edinburgh in the early hours of Thursday, July 9, 2026, drawing a large-scale emergency response and causing significant disruption to the city center. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reported receiving the alarm at 2:52 a.m., with crews arriving to find the structure ablaze. Seven fire engines and three specialist appliances were deployed to the scene at 109 Princes Street, where firefighters worked through the morning to contain the intense flames. No injuries have been reported.

The fire, which sent plumes of smoke into the night sky visible from several neighborhoods, prompted the closure of large sections of Princes Street. Emergency services established cordons as onlookers gathered, with many expressing sadness at the damage to a prominent city landmark. One local resident described the building as iconic and lamented the loss, noting it was the latest in a series of fires affecting historic structures on the famous street. Another passerby echoed the sentiment, calling the building a classic part of the city's beautiful architecture.

The incident has severely disrupted morning travel...