A fire erupted at the renowned Somerset House in London on a Saturday, mobilising nearly 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines to extinguish the flames. The historic arts establishment assured the safety of its employees and visitors, accordingly shutting down the building following the incident, which took place on the Strand in the heart of London on Saturday afternoon. The origin of the inferno, first spotted before midday, was yet to be established.
The London Ambulance Service advised the public to shun the vicinity and recommended nearby shops to seal their windows and doors.
Somerset House took to social media stating, “An unexpected fire has prompted the current closure of Somerset House. We can confirm the safety of all employees and visitors, and the site is now sealed off. Having responded promptly, the London Fire Brigade is handling the situation, with our full cooperation to hinder further spread of the fire.”
London Fire Brigade’s representative disclosed that the firemen were combating the flames situated within an area of the building’s rooftop. He added, “To aid with the fire extinguishing measures, two of our brigade’s 32m ladders are onsite. We have prohibited public access to the Somerset House estate while the firefighters endeavour to control the fire. As a result, this will impact the surrounding traffic.”
Somerset House’s north wing accommodates the Courtauld Gallery, with its adorning famous art pieces, including Vincent van Gogh’s 1889 self-portrait where he is depicted with a bandaged ear. The gallery also possesses pieces by painters such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne.
Father Alan Robinson, a 71-year-old priest residing in Covent Garden and working in the vicinity expressed his concern over the invaluable art exhibit housed in the gallery. He confessed to PA, “I am worried about the Courtauld Gallery and its art collection, whose value I can only surmise as millions (of pounds) – it’s simply irreplaceable.”