Approximately 100 firefighters were dispatched to combat a significant fire at London's iconic Somerset House cultural center on Saturday, as flames erupted from beneath its roof.
The London Fire Brigade announced on their X account, formerly Twitter, that "Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters have been deployed to the fire at Somerset House. Crews are currently addressing a fire in a section of the building's roof."
The official X account of the Renaissance building, which commenced operations in 1796, informed that "due to a fire in a small area of Somerset House, the site is temporarily closed." It further confirmed that "all staff and visitors are safe."
Additional video footage from central London revealed dense clouds of smoke billowing over the building, which spans approximately 180 meters along the River Thames's banks. The grand courtyard of Somerset House is known for hosting summer music concerts and a well-liked ice skating rink during winter, and has featured in the 2003 film "Love Actually." It has also been showcased in two James Bond films, the 2008 film "The Duchess," starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, and Tim Burton's 1999 horror film "Sleepy Hollow."
The fire service reported that two 32-meter ladders had been dispatched to the scene to aid in firefighting efforts. "The entire Somerset House site is now closed to the public as we address the fire. Traffic in the vicinity will be affected due to the ongoing response," they added.
