A historic landmark on Edinburgh’s Princes Street has been extensively damaged after a major fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday, prompting a large-scale emergency response and widespread travel disruption in the city centre.

Emergency services were called to the former Debenhams building at 109 Princes Street at around 2:52 a.m. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours, bringing it largely under control before continuing to extinguish remaining hotspots throughout the morning.

The fire destroyed the roof and upper floors of the vacant B-listed building, while the rest of the structure was left heavily blackened and damaged by smoke and flames. At the height of the incident, seven fire engines and three specialist appliances were deployed. By late morning, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had reduced its response to four fire engines and two height appliances as crews remained on site.

Dramatic images shared online overnight showed flames tearing through the upper levels of the building, with thick smoke visible across the city centre. Authorities confirmed there were no reports of injuries.

Safety cordons remain in place around large sections of Princes Street as firefighters continue monitoring the scene. Officials have advised motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area while emergency operations continue.

The incident has also caused significant disruption to public transport. Tram services are operating only between Edinburgh Airport and the West End, while some bus routes have been diverted. Alternative travel arrangements have been introduced, including ticket acceptance on selected rail and bus services.

Local residents expressed sadness over the damage to one of the city's historic buildings. Many described the loss as another blow to Edinburgh’s architectural heritage, recalling previous fires that affected notable city centre landmarks.

The building, originally opened as the Palace Hotel in 1869, later became home to the Debenhams department store. The store permanently closed in May 2021 after a separate fire the previous month, and redevelopment plans had since proposed converting the property into a hotel.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the latest fire, and investigations are expected to begin once the site is declared safe.