A fire at Somerset House in central London has been contained after around 125 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze at the popular arts venue. The fire broke out in the west wing, on the opposite side of the complex from the Courtauld Gallery, home to famous artworks such as Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear’. Somerset House Trust director Jonathan Reekie expressed confidence that the damage was limited to one small part of the building thanks to the efforts of the emergency services.
The fire, which was first reported just before midday on Saturday, required a complex and technical response from fire crews, including the use of a 63-metre ladder to reach the flames and the creation of fire breaks to limit its spread. The London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner Keeley Foster stated that fire crews would remain on site into Sunday as investigations continue into the cause of the fire.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the fire and Somerset House will remain closed to the public until further notice. The venue had been scheduled to host a breakdancing event to celebrate the sport’s debut at the Paris Olympics, but the event was cancelled due to the fire. Attendee Abisola Alli praised the emergency response, stating that it was handled “really, really well.”
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