Somerset House fire – latest: Courtauld to reopen on Sunday as London firefighters bring blaze under control

A fire which tore through the roof of London landmark Somerset House on Saturday has been brought under control.

Around 125 firefighters spent seven hours trying to extinguish the flames after the fire broke out at about midday.

Smoke could be seen from across the city, billowing from the building in The Strand, beside the north bank of the River Thames.

The property’s Courtauld gallery, home to works by the likes of Van Gogh and Monet, was not affected and will reopen on Sunday.

Somerset House itself will remain closed while the fire’s cause is investigated.

London Fire Brigade said the age and design of the building proved a challenge for crews, and four aerial ladders, including a 64m turntable ladder, were deployed.

Arts minister Sir Chris Bryant said the government was liaising with the venue to “understand the impact and damage”.

He said: “I am very pleased that there are no casualties and hope that Somerset House can reopen to visitors as soon as possible.”

Key Points

• Somerset House fire brought under control

• 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines tackle blaze at Somerset House

• Fire crews still extinguishing pockets of flames in roof

• Courtauld Gallery housing Van Gogh and Monet pieces to reopen tomorrow

• ‘No artworks’ in wing of building where blaze broke out

• Plume of smoke seen from across River Thames

• What is the history of Somerset House?

More pictures from the scene

21:20 , Andre Langlois

These images show the emergency services still at the scene on Saturday evening.

Somerset House roof damage

20:51 , Andre Langlois

This image shows the damage visible from outside Somerset House after the fire continued throughout Saturday afternoon.

Somerset House fire under control

20:27 , Andre Langlois

Having broken out at about midday on Saturday, London Frie Brigade said the fire was under control at shortly before 7pm.

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 64m 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.

“A number of 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 will remain on scene into tomorrow, carrying out further operations.”

London resident says she first assumed smell of smoke on South Bank was a barbecue

19:48 , Andy Gregory

Michelle Birkby, a 50-year-old writer from London, told the PA news agency: “I was walking along the South Bank and could smell smoke, looked up and saw smoke coming out of the top of Somerset House.

“At first I assumed it was a barbecue in the courtyard, or some sort of event, but then I heard the fire engines, realised the smoke was billowing out of control and that Somerset House was on fire.”

Government in touch with Somerset House to understand scale of damage, minister says

18:57 , Andy Gregory

Arts minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “I am sorry to hear about the fire at Somerset House, this historic building is home to some of London’s great galleries and creative spaces.

“I am very pleased that there are no casualties and hope that Somerset House can reopen to visitors as soon as possible.

“My department is in touch with Somerset House so we can understand the impact and damage caused.”

Fire crews to remain at Somerset House into Sunday

18:30 , Andy Gregory

Fire crews will remain at Somerset House into Sunday and there are no reports of any injuries, London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner has said.

“A number of staff and visitors left Somerset House before the Brigade arrived and there are no reports of any injuries,” Keeley Foster told a press conference.

“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 will remain on scene into tomorrow, 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 through the afternoon.”

Courtauld Gallery will reopen tomorrow

18:11 , Andy Gregory

Parts of Somerset House will remain closed to the public “until further notice” but the Courtauld Gallery, containing pricless artworks, will reopen on Sunday, a spokesperson said.

Speaking to reporters outside the building, Somerset House Trust director Jonathan Reekie said: “It’s too early to comment on the building’s condition, but I think, thanks to the efforts of the emergency services, I am confident that the damage is to one small part of the building

“As the London Fire Brigade continue their investigations and operations, Somerset House will remain closed to the public until further notice, but I am happy to say that the Courtauld art gallery and institute will remain open from tomorrow.”

Firefighters still extinguishing last pockets of blazes in roof

18:09 , Andy Gregory

Keeley Foster, assistant commissioner at the London Fire Brigade, has said that the age and design of the building proved a challenge to fire crews as they initially responded.

“As a result, four of the brigades’ 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.

“Crews are now working to extinguish the final pockets of fire.”

Dance troupes cheer as firefighters return their bags left inside the building

17:58 , Andy Gregory

Dance troupes cheered loudly as firefighters returned their bags which had been left inside Somerset House.

Abisola Alli, 29, said she was rehearsing in a changing room with her dance group AfroQueens when they were told the building was being evacuated.

“Most of us left our stuff, some of us left our stuff, then we just went out to the courtyard – we were standing in the courtyard for a little bit, then it got quite serious because they were like, ‘you need to leave now’,” said Ms Alli.

“We ended up leaving then we’ve been outside since,” Ms Alli added, and said that smoke started to appear from the building around 30 to 45 minutes later.

“We just wanted to get our bags, to be honest, no stress though, because the sun was out so we just chilled in the park for a little bit,” she said. “We were worried our stuff would be affected. To be honest this stuff is replaceable but, you know, there’s nothing like having your stuff.”

‘No artworks’ in area of fire

17:28 , Andy Gregory

The Courtauld Gallery, located in the north wing of Somerset House, is home to a collection of famous paintings including Vincent Van Gogh’s 1889 self-portrait of himself with a bandaged ear. The gallery also houses works by Edouard Manet, Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne.

Somerset House Trust director Jonathan Reekie said the fire broke out in the west wing of the building, which is mainly comprised of offices and “back-of-house” facilities, and there are “no artworks in that area”.

Mr Reekie, who has been director of the trust for 10 years, said: “What I can confirm is that a fire was spotted at about midday in one corner of west wing, the site was immediately evacuated and the London Fire Brigade called, who arrived very quickly indeed.

“Everybody is safe and for now we want to let the London Fire Brigade get on and do their brilliant work.”

Fire crews still at work at Somerset House

16:55 , Andy Gregory

Fire crews have taken off their PPE but are still at work, and a fire engine was seen carefully driving through the narrow arches into the courtyard, the PA news agency reported just after 4:30pm.

Those reports came minutes after the London Fire Brigade said firefighters were continuing to work hard to bring the fire affecting part of the roof under control.

Breakdancing event cancelled, staff say

16:47 , Andy Gregory

A breakdancing event due to be held at Somerset House has been cancelled due to the fire, staff who work in the building have said.

The London Battle was set to run from 2pm to 8.30pm, celebrating the sport’s Olympic debut in Paris.

The event was described on the Somerset House website as “a day of dance and breaking showcases, workshops, live DJs and a big outdoor party, all culminating in a head-to-head dance battle between the four corners of London”.

Firefighters still trying to bring blaze on roof under control

16:25 , Andy Gregory

In a new update issued minutes ago, London Fire Brigade said firefighters were continuing to work hard to bring the fire affecting part of the roof at Somerset House under control.

Motorists urged to avoid Somerset House area due to ‘significant disruption'

16:22 , Andy Gregory

Motorists have been urged by the Metropolitan Police to avoid the roads surrounding Somerset House due to “significant disruption”

Scotland Yard said officers were assisting fire crew colleagues, adding: “There is significant disruption on surrounding roads. Please avoid the area.”

What is the history of Somerset House?

15:56 , Andy Gregory

Constructed over the course of more than 25 years on the site of a palace formerly bearing the same name, the current Somerset House was completed in 1801, after which it was home to a multitude of public offices such as tax and registry offices, and institutions including the Royal Academy, Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries.

During the Second World War, it housed the vital Ministry of Supply and continued to be used as public offices before being repurposed as a public venue at the turn of the millennium.

The former palace, on which construction began in 1547, also had a rich history, having been used as a home to royalty, an army headquarters during the English Civil War, and the location at which the treaty to end the 19-year Anglo-Spanish War was negotiated and signed.

While swathes of the City of London was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, the palace – at that point named Denmark House – was spared, with the flames stopping just a short distance to the east.

Security guard says firefighters’ work appears to be concluding

15:31 , Andy Gregory

A Courtauld Gallery security guard, who gave his name as Rafal K, said the firefighters’ work appeared to be finished.

He exited the cordon shortly before 3pm and told a reporter: “It’s still not clear to let people back in, but it looks like the action of the firemen is finished. I’m still waiting for the manager on the shift to bring people back in.

“It will be security [who go in] first and then members of the public who can get their belongings in their lockers.”

He said he believed the locker room was “untouched” by the fire.

The plumes of smoke that were still visible inside the courtyard shortly before 2pm appeared to have ceased. Firefighters were sitting in chairs overlooking Somerset House, wearing T-shirts with their kit at their feet.

Footage shows smoke billowing out of Somerset House

15:20 , Andy Gregory

Local businesses told to keep windows shut ‘due to high volume of smoke’

15:16 , Andy Gregory

The London Ambulance Service has asked people to avoid the area if they can and advised local businesses to keep windows and doors shut “due to the high volume of smoke”.

‘No artworks’ in wing of building where blaze broke out

14:52 , Athena Stavrou

The director of Somerset House Trust said the fire broke out in the west wing of the building and there are “no artworks in that area”.

Jonathan Reekie, 59, has been director of the trust for 10 years and told the PA news agency: “What I can confirm is that a fire was spotted at about midday in one corner of west wing, the site was immediately evacuated and the London Fire Brigade called, who arrived very quickly indeed.

“Everybody is safe and for now we want to let the London Fire Brigade get on and do their brilliant work.

“The west wing is mainly offices and back-of-house facilities, there are no artworks in that area.”

Mr Reekie said he was not inside the building when the fire broke out.

A fire alarm was still sounding as he spoke on the edge of the cordon outside the Somerset House arches at about 2.30pm.

Passers-by were sat on chairs nearby eating their lunches and watching the scene.

The trust is a registered charity and the Charity Commission website says it was established in 1997 “to enhance the education of the public by the provision of a centre for the arts and to maintain the buildings for the benefit of the local and international community as an example of English national heritage”.

It added: “At its heart lies a creative community of innovative businesses and social enterprises which contribute to the vibrancy and energy of the site.”

Somerset House fire visible from the Sky Garden

14:47 , Athena Stavrou

Sky Garden visitors were able to see smoke billow into the air from Somerset House on Saturday.

A fire broke out on the art centre’s roof as 125 firefighters rushed to the scene

125 firefighters now tackling blaze

14:31 , Athena Stavrou

London Fire Brigade said 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines were now helping to tackle the Somerset House blaze.

Concerns over ‘irreplaceable’ art collection

14:22 , Athena Stavrou

Alan Robinson, 71, a Catholic priest who works nearby Somerset House and lives in Covent Garden, said he was worried about the “irreplaceable” art collection in the Courtauld Gallery.

The collection includes masterpieces ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

He told the PA news agency: “The Courtauld Gallery is in there, I have no idea what the value of the collection is, but it’s millions (of pounds) – irreplaceable stuff.”

A large poster of Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear was displayed on the railings, which is listed as a part of the Courtauld collection on the gallery’s website.

Plume of smoke seen from across River Thames

14:20 , Athena Stavrou

Plumes of grey smoke can be seen from across the River Thames as a fire broke out at London’s Somerset House on Saturday.

Around 100 firefighters rushed to the arts centre after a blaze broke out in part of the buildings roof.

Smoke can be seen several streets away and videos on social media show clouds billowing over the River Thames nearby Waterloo Bridge.

15 fire engines deployed to Somerset House

14:08 , Athena Stavrou

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the roof on London’s Somerset House.

A spokesman said: “Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters have been deployed to a fire at Somerset House.

“Crews are tackling flames located in part of the building’s roof. Two of the brigade’s 32m ladders have been sent to the scene to support firefighting operations.

“The entire site at Somerset House is now closed to the public whilst we tackle the fire. Traffic in the surrounding area will be impacted as crews respond.

“The cause of the fire is not yet known.”

Fire wardens in high-vis jackets escorted people away from the venue carrying signs that said “fire assembly point”.

At least five London Fire Brigade vehicles were stationed outside the Somerset House arches on the Strand.

More fire engines could be seen inside the courtyard where thick smoke was visible.

Pictured: Somerset House on fire

13:57 , Athena Stavrou

Somerset House issue statement

13:55 , Athena Stavrou

Somerset House have issued a statement on the fire that has broken out on its premises.

The arts venue in central London was due to be hosting a day of breakdancing when the blaze began.

The former stately home wrote on X/Twitter: “Somerset House is currently closed due to a fire which has broken out in one small part of the building. All staff and public are safe and the site is closed.

“The London Fire Brigade arrived swiftly and we’re working very closely with them to control the spread of the fire.”

Fire breaks out at Somerset House

13:48 , Athena Stavrou

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze at London’s famous Somerset House.

Smoke has been seen coming from the roof of the former stately home on The Strand in central London.

London Fire Brigade said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been deployed to a fire at Somerset House.

“Two of the brigade’s 32m ladders have been sent to the scene to support firefighting operations. Traffic in the surrounding area will be impacted as crews respond.

“The brigade’s control officers have taken over 10 calls reporting the fire, with the first received at 11.59am. Crews from Soho, Dowgate, Islington and surrounding fire stations are attending the scene.

“The cause of the fire is not yet known.”

Somerset House is now an arts venue and on Saturday was due to be hosting a day of breakdancing.