Fire Breaks Out at London's Iconic Somerset House

LONDON — Priceless paintings by Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh and others were safe after firefighters worked to douse a fire Saturday at Somerset House, a large central London arts venue.

Heavy smoke and flames seen coming from the roof around noon had been knocked down by firefighters who poured water on it from buckets on ladder trucks. It appeared from video footage that the fire had left holes in the roof of the building located next to the River Thames.

The cause of the fire was not yet known, the London Fire Brigade said.

Staff and the public were safe and artworks were not in the area of the fire, a Somerset House official said.

“A fire was spotted at about midday in one corner of the west wing, the site was immediately evacuated and the London Fire Brigade called, who arrived very quickly," Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, said. “The west wing is mainly offices and back-of-house facilities, there are no artworks in that area.”

The venue had been scheduled to host a breakdancing event to celebrate the sport’s debut at the Paris Olympics that was canceled.

The fire was on the opposite side of the large complex from The Courtauld Gallery that features works such as Vincent Van Gogh's “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” and “The Descent From The Cross” by Peter Paul Rubens.

The neoclassical building was reconstructed nearly 250 years ago after the original Somerset House was demolished after becoming neglected.

The original palace was built in 1547 by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who was later executed at the Tower of London.

Queen Elizabeth I lived in the palace as a princess for five years before ascending to the throne.

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