A large fire broke out at London’s historic Somerset House cultural centre on Saturday, prompting a major response from emergency services. Approximately 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were deployed to combat the blaze, which was located in part of the building’s roof. Images and videos shared on social media showed flames and thick smoke billowing from the roof of the iconic building.
Fire at Somerset house 🫣 pic.twitter.com/S1OQ0ndSe4
— 🍦 (@KXDXA) August 17, 2024
The London Fire Brigade confirmed the situation via their official account on X (formerly Twitter), stating that crews were actively working to control the fire. Meanwhile, the official X account of Somerset House initially acknowledged the fire and announced the site’s closure but later deleted the post.
Somerset House, which opened in 1796, is a well-known cultural centre in central London, hosting a variety of events, including summer music gigs and a popular winter ice rink. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, but the extent of the damage to this historic site remains unclear at this time.