Somerset House fireplace: Aartworks by Van Gogh and extra emerge unscathed
- Firefighters rushed to scene as fire breaks out in roof of iconic arts centre
Priceless artwork housed in the capital’s iconic Somerset House was unscathed in a fire that ripped through the building earlier today, but the venue will remain closed ‘until further notice’.
The Courtauld Gallery, home to priceless artwork, including Vincent Van Gogh’s 1889 self-portrait showing him with a bandaged ear and and paintings by Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne, was ‘unaffected’ by the blaze and will reopen to the public on Sunday.
London firefighters battled for hours to contain the inferno that ripped through the building’s west wing shortly before 12pm.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it sent 20 fire engines – including specialist height appliances – and 125 firefighters to the 250-year-old building, with harrowing videos and images showing smoke pouring from the building.
The director of Somerset House Trust Jonathan Reekie said there were ‘no artworks’ in the area where the fire broke out.
He added: ‘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.’
Smoke can be seen pouring from the roof of Somerset House in central London
Vincent Van Gogh’s Bandaged Ear at the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House
Firefighters survey the roof of Somerset House after a fire broke out in the west wing today
The fire could be seen taking hold in the roof of the building at its western edge beside Waterloo Bridge
People on Waterloo Bridge look on as the fire takes hold in part of the building’s western wing
Early images following the fire suggest a small area of the roof has been extensively damaged
Eyewitness David Wooton was at Somerset House when the courtyard filled with smoke and he was ordered to leave
The LFB confirmed there were no reported injuries, while security staff said the fire was finally contained three hours after it started.
A spokesperson from Somerset House said: ‘Following Saturday’s fire in one part of Somerset House, our focus is on allowing London Fire Brigade the space to do their work. It is too early to comment any further on the building’s condition.
‘The Daytimers x RepresentAsian event will not be taking place tomorrow and Somerset House will remain closed until further notice.
‘The Courtauld Gallery has not been directly impacted by the fire and it will remain open.
‘The safety and well-being of artists, visitors and staff is paramount to Somerset House. We apologise for any inconvenience this change of circumstances may cause.
‘Once again, we would like to give our sincerest thanks to the emergency services, our staff and our visitors, who all acted so swiftly and diligently to ensure everyone was safe.
‘We are also very grateful for the many messages of support we have received during this time.’
This comes after London Ambulance Service urged people to avoid the area and told local businesses to keep their windows and doors closed.
Early pictures of the area damaged by fire suggest a small area of the roof has collapsed. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Hoses were still being used to dampen down the roof shortly after 3pm.
Firefighters could be seen with axes and crowbars as they worked on the fire from the top of the building.
A team of four tackled the blaze as smoke continued to pour from the historic building.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus enter Somerset House’s courtyard after a fire took hold earlier today
Fire crews attend the fire at Somerset House in London this afternoon. Around 125 firefighters were sent to the scene
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’. Pictured are crews working to battle the blaze
The London Ambulance Service urged local residents and businesses to keep their windows closed as a precaution
People who were evacuated from Somerset House sit outside as the blaze is tackled on the roof
Visitors having their belongings returned following the blaze at Somerset house
A woman outside Somerset House today after a blaze broke out in the building
As they gained access, they used hoses to blast the blaze, working in the fire as they continued to use tools to allow them to access the space.
Fire wardens for the galleries have gathered around the appliances as they wait for an upcoming statement – with staff expecting to be let back in within the hour.
One, who works for the Courtauld Gallery, said: ‘It’s in the west wing, but we don’t know any more than that. We just saw smoke and had to leave. The whole courtyard was filled with smoke. You couldn’t see.
‘They’re still dealing with it on the top. There is no more fire inside.’
The venue had been due to hold London Battle, a breakdancing competition hosted by dancer Jade Hackett, before the fire broke out.
One participant told MailOnline: ‘We’re gutted – it’s been such a dramatic day.’
Dance Umbrella, which organised London Battle, said in a social media statement: ‘We’re absolutely devastated to announce that owing to a fire in one part of Somerset House, the site is currently closed and London Battle and other events today will not take place.’
Word quickly spread of the fire as images and videos were shared at pace on social media while visitors were urged to evacuate.
Abisola Alli,29, from West London was set to take part in the London Battle event at with her group Afro Queens.
But her excitement was dashed when the flames broke out, and they were rushed out of the changing rooms.
‘It was a very exciting event – Jade poured a lot of effort into this,’ she told MailOnline.
‘I came to it last year just to attend and it was so good, I had such a great time that, so it was really exciting to have my group perform and just to battle as well.
‘It’s such a lovely day today as well – you know it’s going to be a good day when the weathers so nice and hot.’
She added: ‘We were in our changing room doing positions for the routine and then the lady said ‘You need to evacuate.
‘We didn’t think anything of it – we just thought it was a fire drill. We went out into the courtyard and started doing our positions again.’
However the woman quickly urged them to leave the premises entirely.
‘That’s when we realised it got quite serious and all the fire engines started pulling up.’
She continued: It’s anticlimactic – everyone’s so excited for all of the events happening today. But I know Jade’s going to pull it out of the bag.
‘Whether it’s this year, next year – it’ll be amazing regardless. We came with our stuff, our material to show people what we have. But unfortunately we didn’t get to show it.’
Art historian David Wooton, 61, was in Somerset House when smoke filled the courtyard and he was forced to leave.
The independent art historian said: ‘I came out to have lunch and was going to go back in again after.
‘On the other side of the courtyard, high up, almost right on the corner of the building, there’s huge amounts of smoke.
‘I didn’t actually see any flames but increasingly the whole courtyard was getting filled with smoke.
‘At that time the whole building was evacuated and we weren’t allowed to go back in.
‘I don’t know how much damage has been done. I think it might have been an electric fault or something because I’ve seen men in high visibility jackets with electric written on their backs.
‘I love the building – it’s a masterpiece of neoclassicism – so I hope nothing serious has been ruined.’
James Sabin, 27, who snapped some pictures of the blaze, said there was a ‘very strong smell of smoke in the air’
Somerset House had been due to host a breakdancing competition (pictured: a promotional image for the same event last year)
Abisola Alli, 29, (pictured) was preparing to preform with her group AfroQueens at the dance battle when the flames broke out
Another visitor, who declined to be named, expressed fears over how the building might be repaired as the first signs of damage became apparent in the hours after the blaze.
He told MailOnline: ‘Along with the national gallery and the royal academy of art this is one of the finest collections in the city and houses – in Britain – the greatest collection of impressionist art.
‘It’s one of the most stunning examples of English baroque as well as a building. Any damage to the collection is enormously significant.
‘We are very fortunate to have a very beautiful collection of art in a very beautiful building and I think the building complements the art and visa versa.
‘My concern is for the building, particularly because of what we have seen happen in Paris with the awful awful fire in Notre Dame and the subsequent attempts to use the catastrophe as an excuse for reconstruction in a more modern vain.
‘I’m very concerned the building won’t to be restored back to the condition which it was this morning.
‘People have lots of ideas and when you have a building that’s stabled you can’t actualise those. When you have a fire and you have a great big hole in the roof all sorts of things can come to mind. I think that’s slightly concerning.
‘One would be very upset if this were used as an excuse to try and construct something very different from what there was this morning.’
As of around 5.35pm, items were being returned to visitors who had rushed away from the burning building.
LFB said in a statement: ‘Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters have been deployed to a fire at Somerset House.
‘Crews are tackling flames located in part of the building’s roof. A number of staff left the property safely before the Brigade arrived.
‘Two 32-metre turntable ladders have been sent to the scene to support firefighting operations.
‘The entire site at Somerset House is now closed to the public whilst firefighters tackle the fire. Traffic in the surrounding area will be impacted as crews respond.
‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken more than 30 calls reporting the fire with the first received at 1159. Crews from Soho, Dowgate, Islington and surrounding fire stations are attending the scene.
‘The cause of the fire is not yet known.’
Somerset House-based art college The Courtauld has closed its galleries after a fire at the historic venue but says its collection is ‘unaffected’.
Professor Mark Hallett, Marit Rausing director of The Courtauld, said: ‘The Courtauld, including our galleries and collection of artworks, is unaffected by the fire.
‘As a precaution, we have closed the galleries for the rest of the day.’
A height appliance – one of two sent to the scene – is used by firefighters to assess the damage at Somerset House
The gallery says it is working with the London Fire Brigade to ‘control the spread’ of the flames. Firefighters are pictured working the scene on Saturday afternoon
A firefighter is seen issuing an order as vehicles assemble at the entrance to Somerset House
Fire engines on Victoria Embankment as 100 firefighters tackle a blaze in the roof of Somerset House
Somerset House says the fire is in ‘one small part’ of the building but added that it had nevertheless closed the building while the blaze was tackled
Dance Umbrella, which organised the London Battle event, said it was ‘absolutely devastated’ to cancel the breakdancing competition
Police officer guards a cordoned off area as firefighters tackle a blaze at Somerset House on August 17, 2024 in London
An eyewitness said on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Smoke is coming from the back of the complex and filling the square, people are now being ushered out.’
Michelle Birkby, 50, a London-based writer, 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.
‘It’s a place I visit quite often and I know it’s beautiful and I really hope they can stop the fire before it does too much damage.’
A woman, who would not give her name but said she works in Somerset House, walked out of the cordon and told the PA news agency: ‘It’s fine, it’s localised in one area.’
James Sabin, 27, who took pictures of the blaze from a balcony on a nearby building, said he saw ‘plumes of smoke’, adding that there was a ‘very strong smell of smoke in the air.’
Alan Robinson, 71, a Catholic priest who works nearby and lives in Covent Garden, said he was worried about the ‘irreplaceable’ art collection in the Courtauld Gallery.
He said: ‘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.’
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, 59, who has been director of the trust for 10 years, confirmed the fire was spotted around midday in ‘one corner of west wing’.
The site was ‘immediately evacuated’ and the London Fire Brigade were called. Mr Reekie says crews arrived on scene ‘very quickly’.
‘Everybody is safe and for now we want to let the London Fire Brigade get on and do their brilliant work,’ he said. ‘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.
The London Fire Brigade is using height appliances to tackle and survey the blaze from above
People sitting outside Somerset House after it was evacuated (left). The arts centre said all staff and visitors are safe as firefighters took to the roof (right)
Smoke continues to pour from the building two hours after the fire was first reported. A drone (right) can be seen surveying the incident as firefighters look on from a ladder
Smoke rises as firefighters work at the scene of a fire at Somerset House in London today
An eyewitness said on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Smoke is coming from the back of the complex and filling the square, people are now being ushered out.’
Michelle Birkby, 50, a London-based writer, 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.
‘It’s a place I visit quite often and I know it’s beautiful and I really hope they can stop the fire before it does too much damage.’
A woman, who would not give her name but said she works in Somerset House, walked out of the cordon and told the PA news agency: ‘It’s fine, it’s localised in one area.’
James Sabin, 27, who took pictures of the blaze from a balcony on a nearby building, said he saw ‘plumes of smoke’, adding that there was a ‘very strong smell of smoke in the air.’
Alan Robinson, 71, a Catholic priest who works nearby and lives in Covent Garden, said he was worried about the ‘irreplaceable’ art collection in the Courtauld Gallery.
He said: ‘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.’
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, 59, who has been director of the trust for 10 years, confirmed the fire was spotted around midday in ‘one corner of west wing’.
The site was ‘immediately evacuated’ and the London Fire Brigade were called. Mr Reekie says crews arrived on scene ‘very quickly’.
‘Everybody is safe and for now we want to let the London Fire Brigade get on and do their brilliant work,’ he said. ‘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 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.
Fire officers could be seen on the roof of the former stately home, which looks onto the Strand, while others used height appliances to survey and extinguish the flames from on high.
Somerset House initially said the fire was ‘small’ and contained within part of the building – but nevertheless opted to close. It had been due to hold London Battle, a breakdancing event, today.
In a previous statement to MailOnline, a spokesperson said: ‘A fire has broken out in one part of Somerset House. Our teams immediately followed our robust fire procedures and the site was evacuated promptly. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) arrived swiftly.
‘We do not yet know the cause of the fire, our focus now is allowing LFB the space to do their brilliant work. All our staff and the general public are safe and are not at risk.’
Firefighters discuss an action plan within Somerset House (left) as a height appliance is sent into the building’s central courtyard (right)
The fire as seen from further up the river, past the Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges
London Fire Brigade has warned that traffic around the area will be affected (pictured: the fire as seen from Victoria Embankment, left, and seen from across the Thames, right)
It also said on X, formerly 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.’
It said earlier that the London Battle breakdancing event would not take place but has since retracted that element of its statement.
The earlier statement read: ‘Owing to a fire in one small part of Somerset House, the site is currently closed. London Battle and other events today will not take place. We apologise for any inconvenience.’
Somerset House was originally built as a Tudor palace for the Duke of Somerset in 1547 but is now an arts centre describing itself as ‘a home of cultural innovation and connects artists and designers with wider society’.
The current building was designed by Sir William Chambers in 1776 with further extensions added on in the Victorian era – and now hosts a combination of free and ticketed exhibitions.
