London’s Somerset House, known for its priceless artworks including pieces by Van Gogh and Monet, was thankfully unaffected by a fire that broke out on Saturday, as confirmed by the gallery.
Over 125 firefighters and 20 engines worked to extinguish the flames that engulfed the roof of the western wing, managing to bring the blaze under control before 7:00 pm (1800 GMT).
“The fire at #SomersetHouse is now under control and investigations into the cause will begin,” the London Fire Brigade shared on their social media platform.
The neoclassical cultural complex by the Thames River was scheduled to host a breakdancing competition on the day of the fire, but the event was disrupted when smoke started rising from the building, leading to multiple calls to the fire department.
“The fire was located in part of the building’s roof space,” said Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster of the London Fire Brigade in a statement to reporters outside the landmark.
No injuries were reported as both staff and visitors had evacuated the building before the fire crews arrived on the scene.
Somerset House, which once served as the residence of Queen Elizabeth I before she was crowned, announced that it will remain closed until further notice in a notice on its website.
The complex is home to various creative businesses and arts spaces, including the Courtauld Gallery which houses famous works like Vincent van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear”.
“The Courtauld Gallery has not been directly impacted by the fire and will continue to remain open,” assured the statement from Somerset House.
Videos captured from central London showed thick smoke billowing from the building that spans approximately 180 meters along the River Thames.
Throughout the year, the courtyard of Somerset House hosts music events in the summer and a popular ice skating rink in the winter, making appearances in various films including “Love Actually”, “The Duchess”, “Sleepy Hollow”, and two James Bond movies.
“Firefighters have been working tirelessly in the intense heat to protect Somerset House from further damage,” Assistant Commissioner Foster mentioned.
“Crews will continue working on site tomorrow to carry out additional operations,” she added.
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