A huge fire has ripped through a historic building in central Edinburgh with flames raging through the night sky above the Scottish capital.
The blaze erupted at 109-111 Princes Street at around 4am on Thursday morning.
Footage has circulated on social media showing large plumes of smoke blanketing Edinburgh’s iconic skyline.
The fire erupted just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Edinburgh Castle.
Personnel from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have raced to the scene to bring the blaze under control.
The service confirmed to GB News it will issuing a briefing to the public in the next couple of hours.
The fire is expected to trigger transport delays in central Edinburgh this morning, with Scottish Citylink confirming its services around the affected area have been cancelled.
The operator wrote on social media: “Due to a building fire, Princes Street in Edinburgh is currently closed at the moment and is unable to be served.
The blaze erupted at 109-111 Princes Street at around 4am on Thursday morning
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“Next alternatives stops are either the Bus Station or Shandwick place.”
Princes Street has been cordoned off while emergency services attempt to tackle the blaze, local residents have reported.
The incident comes just months after Glasgow Central Station was forced to close for days following a devastating blaze.
The fire started at a vape shop on Union Street on March 8, before spreading to part of the same structure on Gordon Street.
Personnel from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have raced to the scene to bring the blaze under control
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X/AJLIVESHEREThe 19th-century building housing the station partially collapsed following the inferno.
Over Bank Holiday weekend in May, Scottish fire chiefs issued an extreme wildfire warning as the country baked in blistering heat.
In 2025, Scotland suffered its most severe wildfire season in history.
A record 241 wildfire incidents were reported throughout the year – with 109 occurring in April alone – according to the SFRS.
Between July 28 and July 2, 2025, wildfires around Carrbridge and Dava Moor were the largest ever recorded in Britain.