At around 11:30 a.m firefighters, police, and ambulance personnel were dispatched to the former department store on Rose Street in Edinburgh.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched 22 fire engines, and when they arrived, the fire was well-established.
As firefighters battled the flames, nearby Marks & Spencer and the Mercure Hotel on Princes Street were closed.
Lothian Buses also announced that some of its services would be diverted as a result of the incident.
Eyewitnesses described smoke pouring out of the department store’s basement area.
The Fire Brigades Union said it was aware of the ongoing incident at Jenners in Edinburgh and had been informed of reports of firefighters being injured.
“We can confirm that five firefighters have been treated at the scene or in hospital, one of whom is in critical condition,” a spokesperson said.
Officially, no casualties have been reported.
Witnesses described smoke pouring out of the department store’s basement area after the fire was discovered.
A police cordon was erected around St Andrew Square, and employees from nearby offices were evacuated.
When Jenners closed in 2021, it was one of the world’s oldest department stores.
The current A-listed structure dates from 1895, after another fire destroyed the original.
