More than 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were called to tackle a blaze at Somerset House in central London on Saturday. The Georgian-era complex, which was built on the site of a palace dating back to the Tudors, houses the Courtauld Institute of Art and other arts and education organizations.
A pillar of smoke could be seen billowing from the roof of the former stately home on the Strand. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reportedly received the first call about the fire on Saturday just before midday. The Metropolitan Police said there are no reported injuries and the LFB said the cause of the blaze remains unknown.
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Somerset House posted on X, “Owing to a fire in one small part of Somerset House, the site is currently closed.” It added that all of its Saturday events have been cancelled or postponed.
“Two of the brigade’s 32-meter ladders have been sent to the scene to support fire-fighting operations,” an LFB spokesperson said. “Traffic in the surrounding area will be impacted as crews respond.”
Social media users posted photos and videos showing the grey smoke rising above the River Thames and nearby Waterloo Bridge.
The fire was extinguished on Saturday evening, with around 125 eventually called to the scene. The Courtauld Institute of Art has reopened to the public.
LFB’s assistant commissioner, Keeley Foster, 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-meter 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.”
Editor’s note, 8/19/2024: This article was updated to report that the fire was extinguished.