A fire at Somerset House, a central London arts venue housing famous artworks such as Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear’ and ‘The Descent From The Cross’ by Peter Paul Rubens, has been successfully contained by around 125 firefighters. The blaze broke out in the west wing, opposite the Courtauld Gallery, but thanks to the efforts of the emergency services, damage seems to be limited to one small part of the building. As the London Fire Brigade continues their investigation, the venue will remain closed to the public.
The fire was reported just before midday on Saturday, leading to a complex and technical response from fire crews, including the use of a 63-metre ladder to reach the flames and the creation of fire breaks in the roof. Although no injuries were reported, the venue had to cancel a scheduled breakdancing event.
Director of the Somerset House Trust, Jonathan Reekie, expressed confidence in the building’s condition despite the fire, promising that the venue will reopen once it is safe to do so. London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner Keeley Foster stated that crews will remain on site through Sunday to ensure the safety of the building.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the venue’s closure has affected planned events, including a celebration for breakdancing’s debut at the Paris Olympics. Despite the scare, attendees and officials praised the emergency response and handling of the situation.
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