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Fire breaks out at BBC's former HQ Television Centre | Fire breaks out at BBC's former HQ Television Centre |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Crews have been tackling the fire for 12 hours | |
Firefighters have been tackling a "complex fire" for 12 hours in a restaurant at the BBC's former Television Centre headquarters in west London. | |
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said 15 engines and 100 firefighters were called to the nine-storey building in Wood Lane, White City, after a fire broke out in the early hours. | |
Smoke was still billowing from the rooftop rotunda late on Saturday morning as crews used a drone to help tackle the blaze and crowds gathered on the street to watch and take photos. | |
Parts of the building, which now houses a restaurant and flats, as well as television studios, were evacuated, and a police cordon sealed off the plaza. | |
Drone footage shows smoke pouring out of Television Centre | |
It is not known what caused the fire, LFB said. | |
Nearby buildings were also evacuated as a precaution and a rest centre was set up for those who had to leave their homes. | |
The Salvation Army could be seen handing out sandwiches to emergency workers. | |
Firefighters remained at the scene at 15:00 BST, about 12 hours after the brigade was first called. | |
LFB described it as a "complex fire" but said crews were "continuing to make steady progress". | |
A resident who lives in one of the converted flats at the site said he could smell the smoke at 03:00. | |
"It was quite thick," he said. "I could just see a red glow. It almost looked like a portal to the underworld. It was quite sinister. | |
"We could see about 100 firefighters and at least eight or nine fire engines that were all parked up. | |
"We were in a different part of the building on the other side of the complex, so I wasn't evacuated or instructed by any firefighters, but they seemed very on it." | |
The London Ambulance Service said it treated one patient at the scene, who was then discharged. | |
"The incident is ongoing and we remain on scene as a precaution, working closely with our emergency services partners," the spokesperson added. | |
Isabela Brooker and her son were evacuated from their seventh-floor flat | Isabela Brooker and her son were evacuated from their seventh-floor flat |
Isabela Brooker, who lives on the seventh floor, said she and her eight-and-a-half month old son Rafael were evacuated at 04:30. | |
"We heard a knock on the door and it was the fire brigade telling us to evacuate," she said. | "We heard a knock on the door and it was the fire brigade telling us to evacuate," she said. |
"There was smoke all in the corridor - it was very scary. I left everything and we're now down here in our pyjamas. | "There was smoke all in the corridor - it was very scary. I left everything and we're now down here in our pyjamas. |
"I have no nappies and nothing else." | "I have no nappies and nothing else." |
LFB said it was called out shortly after 03:00, with crews drafted in from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington and Chiswick. | |
Two large turntable ladders were being used to tackle the fire from a height. | Two large turntable ladders were being used to tackle the fire from a height. |
London Fire Brigade was called to the building at 03:08 BST on Saturday | |
The mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan posted on X to thank LFB for its work tackling the "major fire". | |
LFB said the restaurant, external decking and ducting had all been alight. | |
"The brigade is working alongside multi-agency partners, including the Metropolitan Police, to evacuate buildings in the area as a precaution," it said in a statement. | "The brigade is working alongside multi-agency partners, including the Metropolitan Police, to evacuate buildings in the area as a precaution," it said in a statement. |
"Wood Lane is currently closed to traffic and people are advised to avoid the area as the incident will remain ongoing for some time." | "Wood Lane is currently closed to traffic and people are advised to avoid the area as the incident will remain ongoing for some time." |
London Fire Brigade said the incident is expected to remain ongoing for some time | London Fire Brigade said the incident is expected to remain ongoing for some time |
A spokesperson for Television Centre said: "Earlier this morning a fire occurred in the Helios building at Television Centre in west London, which is now contained. | |
"We can confirm that residents and staff members were evacuated safely. | |
"We are hugely grateful to the London Fire Brigade for their swift response and to the Metropolitan Police for their support. | |
"We continue to work closely with the emergency services and local authorities to ensure the building is secure." |