Valuable works of art, including Van Gogh and Monet paintings, which are part of the valuable art collection at Somerset House, an arts center in London, England, remained safe even though the fire engulfed the historic building on Saturday (17/8).
About 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines were deployed to extinguish the fire that engulfed the roof of the west wing. The blaze in the more than 450-year-old building was extinguished before 7 p.m. local time.
“The fire at #SomersetHouse is now under control and an investigation into the cause will begin,” the London Fire Brigade wrote on social media site X.
The neoclassical cultural complex along the River Thames was due to host a breakdancing competition on Saturday, but smoke billowing from the center of the building prompted many to call the fire brigade.
“The fire is in the roof of the building,” London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster told reporters from outside the historic building, according to a statement.
“The age and design of the building presented challenges for crews when they first responded.”
The fire brigade added that there were no reports of injuries as staff and visitors had already left the building when they arrived.
Somerset House said on its website that the building, which was once the residence of Queen Elizabeth I before her coronation in 1558 and Anne of Denmark, “will remain closed until further notice.”
This historic cultural complex in central London is home to a range of creative businesses and art spaces, including the Courtauld Gallery, which showcases Vincent van Gogh's “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” as one of the highlights of its collection.
“The Courtauld Galleries are not directly affected by the fire and will remain open,” Somerset House said in a statement.
Footage taken from central London showed a thick plume of smoke billowing above the building, which stretched about 180 metres along the banks of the River Thames.
The grounds of this magnificent building are used as a venue for musical performances during the summer and become a famous ice skating rink in the winter, which also featured in the 2003 film “Love Actually.”
The building also appeared in the 2008 film “The Duchess,” starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, as well as Tim Burton's 1999 horror film “Sleepy Hollow” and two James Bond films.
“Officers have worked extremely hard in extremely hot weather and the heat of the fire to protect Somerset House from further damage,” Assistant Commissioner Foster said. (ah/ft)
