The blaze on Edinburgh's Princes Street underscores that the fire service cannot endure additional cuts, according to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The union emphasized that the fire at the historic building on the city's main thoroughfare demonstrates the critical role of local fire stations.
Union Highlights Importance of Local Stations
As part of a service delivery review, several fire stations across Scotland are undergoing changes. The FBU noted that among the crews responding to the Princes Street fire were firefighters from Marionville station, which was preserved after a campaign to save it.
Gus Sproul, Scottish regional chairman of the FBU, stated: "It shows that we need an appropriate weight of response to deal with these fires effectively and if we see further cuts to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, we’ll not be able to do that."
Job Losses and Funding Needs
Sproul highlighted that 1,250 firefighter posts have been eliminated over the past 13 years, including 166 positions lost just three years ago. He stressed that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can no longer withstand cuts and requires sustained funding from the Scottish Government.
Similar to a recent fire near Glasgow Central station, Sproul noted that the age of the Princes Street building posed additional challenges for firefighters. Older structures, like the former Debenhams site, present extra risks, he said.
Health Risks and Safety Concerns
The longer crews remain at the scene, the greater their exposure to potentially carcinogenic fumes from the fire. Sproul also referenced the death of firefighter Barry Martin, who was fatally injured while attending another fire on Princes Street in 2023, calling it a "sobering moment."
Martin died while tackling a blaze at the former Jenners building. Sproul added: "It’s a very, very dangerous job that we do and we need the Scottish Government to commit to sustainable funding so we can prevent these kind of things happening in the future."
Response and Further Information
The fire service has been approached for comment. Emergency services were called to the blaze at the old Debenhams building at 2:52 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
