Somerset House Fire Contained, Artwork and Public Safe

A fire that broke out at Somerset House, a historic arts venue in central London, has been successfully contained after a swift response from around 125 firefighters. The blaze, which erupted in the west wing of the building shortly before midday, prompted the closure of the landmark until further notice.

Firefighters from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) worked tirelessly to extinguish the final pockets of fire located in the roof space. Fortunately, there were no artworks in the affected area, and no injuries have been reported.

Thick grey smoke was seen rising over the River Thames and nearby Waterloo Bridge, causing concern among onlookers. However, LFB’s assistant commissioner Keeley Foster assured the public that the situation was under control, describing the response as “complex and technical.” Firefighters will remain at the scene into the next day to ensure the fire is fully extinguished.

Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House, expressed relief that the fire was contained but noted that it’s too early to assess the full extent of the damage to the building. He confirmed that the venue would stay closed for the time being, although the Courtauld Gallery, located within Somerset House, is set to reopen to the public tomorrow.

The London Ambulance Service advised locals to avoid the area and keep windows and doors shut due to the heavy smoke. Arts minister Sir Chris Bryant expressed his hope that Somerset House could reopen soon and confirmed that his department is in contact with the venue.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the rapid response and effective coordination between the LFB and Somerset House staff ensured that the situation was managed without harm to the public or the venue’s treasured art collection.