About 100 firefighters are currently battling a blaze that broke out at a restaurant in the BBC’s former Television Centre headquarters in West London.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that 15 fire engines were deployed to the nine-storey building on Wood Lane, White City, after the fire started in the early hours of Saturday.
The building, which now houses a restaurant, flats, and television studios, has seen an unspecified number of residents evacuated as a precaution. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, and no casualties have been reported so far.
Isabela Brooker, a resident on the seventh floor, said she and her eight-and-a-half-month-old son Rafael were evacuated at 04:30 BST. She described the situation as “very scary,” adding, “There was smoke all in the corridor. I left everything, and we’re now down here in our pyjamas. I have no nappies and nothing else.”
LFB stated that it was called out shortly after 03:00 BST, with crews responding from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, and Chiswick. Two large turntable ladders are being used to tackle the fire from height.
In an 08:00 update, LFB said the restaurant, external decking, and ducting were still ablaze. The brigade is coordinating with multi-agency partners, including the Metropolitan Police, to evacuate nearby buildings as a precaution. A rest center has been set up for displaced residents.
Wood Lane remains closed to traffic, and the public has been advised to avoid the area while operations continue.
The London Ambulance Service treated one patient at the scene, who was later discharged. A spokesperson added, “The incident is ongoing, and we remain on scene as a precaution, working closely with our emergency services partners.”
