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16 August 2024
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Fire breaks out at historic London arts centre, UK
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Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters were deployed to a fire at Somerset House on Saturday, 17 August 2024. Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster, who was at the scene, said, "The fire was located in part of the building’s roof space. The age and design of the building proved a challenge for crews as they initially responded. As a result, four of the Brigade’s aerial ladders, including a 64 metre turntable ladder, were deployed to support firefighters as they carried out a complex and technical response. This included creating fire breaks in the roof, which has now limited the spread of flames.
Part of the third floor and the roof of the west wing of the building were damaged by fire. The historic building's major art collections, including works by Manet, van Gogh and Cezanne, were undamaged.
"Around 150 staff and visitors left Somerset House before the Brigade arrived and there are no reports of any injuries. Crews have been working incredibly hard through the very hot weather and heat of the fire to protect Somerset House from further damage. I’d like to thank all our firefighters for their work so far. Crews continue to remain on scene on Sunday, 18 August 2024, carrying out further operations. Throughout the incident we’ve worked closely with the staff at Somerset House in order to coordinate our response. I’d also like to thank the Metropolitan Police Service and London Ambulance Service for their support."
The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took more than 30 calls reporting the fire.
The Brigade was called at 1159 and the fire was under control by 1851. Crews from Soho, Dowgate, Islington and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
Somerset House, on a site which overlooks the River Thames and dating back to 1547, is a former royal palace and stately home and is now an arts, cultural and entertainment centre. The Courtauld Gallery, which houses masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century, is in the building's north wing.
The original building was demolished in 1775 and then rebuilt.
It was the residence of Princess Elizabeth before she was crowned Queen Elizabeth I in 1558 and the headquarters of the Parliamentary Army from 1642 during the English Civil War, and is a former home of both the Admiralty and the Inland Revenue.
The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed much of the City of London but stopped just short of the Somerset House site.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Sources: London Fire Brigade, Reuters
Part of the third floor and the roof of the west wing of the building were damaged by fire. The historic building's major art collections, including works by Manet, van Gogh and Cezanne, were undamaged.
"Around 150 staff and visitors left Somerset House before the Brigade arrived and there are no reports of any injuries. Crews have been working incredibly hard through the very hot weather and heat of the fire to protect Somerset House from further damage. I’d like to thank all our firefighters for their work so far. Crews continue to remain on scene on Sunday, 18 August 2024, carrying out further operations. Throughout the incident we’ve worked closely with the staff at Somerset House in order to coordinate our response. I’d also like to thank the Metropolitan Police Service and London Ambulance Service for their support."
The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took more than 30 calls reporting the fire.
The Brigade was called at 1159 and the fire was under control by 1851. Crews from Soho, Dowgate, Islington and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
Somerset House, on a site which overlooks the River Thames and dating back to 1547, is a former royal palace and stately home and is now an arts, cultural and entertainment centre. The Courtauld Gallery, which houses masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century, is in the building's north wing.
The original building was demolished in 1775 and then rebuilt.
It was the residence of Princess Elizabeth before she was crowned Queen Elizabeth I in 1558 and the headquarters of the Parliamentary Army from 1642 during the English Civil War, and is a former home of both the Admiralty and the Inland Revenue.
The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed much of the City of London but stopped just short of the Somerset House site.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Sources: London Fire Brigade, Reuters
