A fire raged under the roof of London’s historic Somerset House – but thanks to the efforts of more than 125 firefighters, the building’s priceless art collections, including works by Manet, van Gogh and Cezanne, were saved.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) fought the fire, which broke out in the west wing shortly before midday on Saturday, with 25 fire engines, authorities said.
Nobody was injured.
According to ABCNews, rescue workers used a 60-meter-long ladder to reach the flames and had to create firebreaks in the roof to contain the spread of the fire.
“Crews are now working to extinguish the last of the fires,” Keeley Foster, deputy director of the LFB, told reporters.
“The fire was located in a portion of the attic of the building. The age and construction of the building presented a challenge for emergency responders during their initial response.”
Somerset House – overlooking the River Thames and dating back to 1547 – is a former royal palace and mansion converted into an arts, culture and entertainment centre.
The artworks are in the north wing. The Courtauld Gallery, which houses masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, was due to reopen to the public on Sunday.
NBC News reported that a day of breakdancing and other events planned for Saturday had to be canceled because of the fire.
Foster said crews would remain on site overnight and the cause of the fire would be investigated.
The main building of Somerset House will remain closed to the public until further notice, authorities said.
“It is too early to comment on the condition of the building,” said Jonathan Reekie, director of the Somerset House Trust.
“I am convinced that the damage is limited to a small part of the building.”
The Somerset Building has a charming and glorious history.
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. It was also formerly the seat of the Admiralty and the Revenue.
The original building was demolished in 1775 and subsequently rebuilt.
The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed large parts of the city, but Somerset House survived.
With post wires
