Around 100 firefighters fought a major fire at London’s historic cultural centre Somerset House on Saturday, with flames blazing from under the roof.
“Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters have now been dispatched to the fire at Somerset House. Crews are battling a fire in part of the roof of the building,” the London Fire Service posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The official X-Report of the Renaissance building, which opened in 1796, states: “Due to a fire in a small part of Somerset House, the site is at present closed.”
It further stated that “all employees and the public are safe.”
Other images from central London showed thick plumes of smoke rising above the building, which stretches about 180 metres along the banks of the Thames.
The magnificent building’s courtyard hosts music concerts in the summer and serves as a popular ice skating rink in the winter, which was featured in the 2003 film Love Actually.
It also appeared in two James Bond films: the 2008 film “The Duchess” starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, and Tim Burton’s 1999 horror film “Sleepy Hollow.”
The fire department said two 32-meter-long ladders had been sent to the scene to assist with firefighting efforts.
“The entire grounds of Somerset House are now closed to the public while we tackle the fire. Traffic in the surrounding area is being disrupted by emergency services,” it said.
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