London's Somerset House is set to reopen just one week after a huge fire ripped through its west wing - threatening priceless paintings byVan Gogh, Manet, Monet and Cezanne.
Around 125 firefighters swarmed the iconic building not long before midday on Saturday, battlingthe blaze as ittore through the roof of the art centre.
It was announced in the hours that followed that the Courtauld Gallery, home priceless artwork, was 'unaffected' by the blaze.
This meant pieces like Vincent Van Gogh's 1889 self-portrait showing him with a bandaged ear and and paintings by Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne emerged unscathed.
And while the cause of the fire remains unknown, the Somerset House Trust revealed it would reopening the building on Saturday.
Smoke could be seen pouring from the roof of Somerset House in central London before around midday on Saturday August 17
Vincent Van Gogh's Bandaged Ear, which sits at the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, was unscathed
Firefighters survey the roof of Somerset House after a fire broke out in the west wing on Saturday
The fire could be seen taking hold in the roof of the building at its western edge beside Waterloo Bridge
People on Waterloo Bridge look on as the fire takes hold in part of the building's western wing
Early images following the fire suggested a small area of the roof has been extensively damaged
Eyewitness David Wooton was at Somerset House when the courtyard filled with smoke and he was ordered to leave
The trust thanked the London Fire Brigade (LFB) for 'preventing much greater destruction' and said investigators were still undertaking their probe into the inferno.
After the blaze on Saturday, it was said thevenue will remain closed 'until further notice'.
Londonfirefighters battled for hours to contain the inferno that ripped through the building's west wing shortly before 12pm.
LFB said it sent 20 fire engines - including specialist height appliances - and 125 firefighters to the 250-year-old building, with harrowing videos and images showing smoke pouring from the building.
The director of Somerset House Trust Jonathan Reekie said at the time there were 'no artworks' in the area where the fire broke out.
He added: 'As the London Fire Brigade continue their investigations and operations, Somerset House will remain closed to the public until further notice, but I am happy to say that the Courtauld art gallery and institute will remain open from tomorrow.'
The LFB confirmed there were no reported injuries, while security staff said the fire was finally contained three hours after it started.
London Ambulance Service had urged people to avoid the area and told local businesses to keep their windows and doors closed.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus enter Somerset House's courtyard after a fire took hold last Saturday
Around 125 firefighters were sent to the scene
The director of Somerset House Trust said the fire broke out in the west wing of the building and there are 'no artworks in that area'. Pictured are crews working to battle the blaze
The London Ambulance Service urged local residents and businesses to keep their windows closed as a precaution
People who were evacuated from Somerset House sat outside as the blaze is tackled on the roof
Visitors having their belongings returned following the blaze at Somerset house
In a statement released yesterday, Somerset House Trust announced the reopening.
It said: 'We are pleased to confirm that we are able to commence a phased reopening of Somerset House, following Saturday’s fire.
'On Saturday, we will re-open the acclaimed exhibition The Lore of LOVERBOY and in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Vogue Rites will present the Mighty Crown Ball powered by adidas London. For these and other events, including Dono: Appau Jnr Boakye-Yiadom & Harun Morrison, please see our website for further details.
'Our community of artists, makers and creative start-ups based in Somerset House’s New Wing, including Somerset House Studios artists, have already started to return today. Residents based in the workspaces of West and South Wing will follow as soon as possible.
'Saturday’s fire was successfully contained to one part of the building. London Fire Brigade’s operation onsite has ended and its investigation will continue.
'We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the individual firefighters of the LFB, the emergency services and our staff for ensuring everyone’s safety and preventing much greater destruction.
'We have been very moved by expressions of support from around the world over the last few days, which has served as a reminder of how cherished Somerset House is as an arts destination and the home of cultural innovators, housing its unrivalled creative community of talented individuals and enterprises.
'We would like to thank our audiences and community for their patience as we begin this reopening process.'
Early pictures of the area damaged by fire suggest a small area of the roof has collapsed.
Hoses were still being used to dampen down the roof shortly after 3pm on Saturday.
Firefighters could be seen with axes and crowbars as they worked on the fire from the top of the building.
A team of four tackled the blaze as smoke continued to pour from the historic building.
A spokesperson from Somerset House previously said: 'Following Saturday's fire in one part of Somerset House, our focus is on allowing London Fire Brigade the space to do their work. It is too early to comment any further on the building's condition.
'The Daytimers x RepresentAsian event will not be taking place tomorrow and Somerset House will remain closed until further notice.
'The Courtauld Gallery has not been directly impacted by the fire and it will remain open.
'The safety and well-being of artists, visitors and staff is paramount to Somerset House.We apologise for any inconvenience this change of circ*mstances may cause.
'Once again, we would like to give our sincerest thanks to the emergency services, our staff and our visitors, who all acted so swiftly and diligently to ensure everyone was safe.
'We are also very grateful for the many messages of support we have received during this time.'
One visitor on Saturday, who declined to be named, expressed fears over how the building might be repaired as the first signs of damage became apparent in the hours after the blaze.
He told MailOnline: 'Along with the national gallery and the royal academy of art this is one of the finest collections in the city and houses - in Britain - the greatest collection of impressionist art.
'It's one of the most stunning examples of English baroque as well as a building. Any damage to the collection is enormously significant.
'We are very fortunate to have a very beautiful collection of art in a very beautiful building and I think the building complements the art and visa versa.
'My concern is for the building, particularly because of what we have seen happen in Paris with the awful awful fire in Notre Dame and the subsequent attempts to use the catastrophe as an excuse for reconstruction in a more modern vain.
'I'm very concerned the building won't to be restored back to the condition which it was this morning.
'People have lots of ideas and when you have a building that's stabled you can't actualise those. When you have a fire and you have a great big hole in the roof all sorts of things can come to mind. I think that's slightly concerning.
'One would be very upset if this were used as an excuse to try and construct something very different from what there was this morning.'
As of around 5.35pm on the day of the fire, items were being returned to visitors who had rushed away from the burning building.
James Sabin, 27, who snapped some pictures of the blaze, said there was a 'very strong smell of smoke in the air'
A height appliance - one of two sent to the scene - is used by firefighters to assess the damage at Somerset House
The gallery says it is working with the London Fire Brigade to 'control the spread' of the flames. Firefighters are pictured working the scene on Saturday afternoon
A firefighter is seen issuing an order as vehicles assemble at the entrance to Somerset House
Fire engines on Victoria Embankment as 100 firefighters tackle a blaze in the roof of Somerset House
Michelle Birkby, 50, a London-based writer, told the PA news agency: 'I was walking along the South Bank, and could smell smoke, looked up and saw smoke coming out of the top of Somerset House.
'At first I assumed it was a barbecue in the courtyard, or some sort of event, but then I heard the fire engines, realised the smoke was billowing out of control and that Somerset House was on fire.
'It's a place I visit quite often and I know it's beautiful and I really hope they can stop the fire before it does too much damage.'
A woman, who would not give her name but said she works in Somerset House, walked out of the cordon and told the PA news agency: 'It's fine, it's localised in one area.'
James Sabin, 27, who took pictures of the blaze from a balcony on a nearby building, said he saw 'plumes of smoke', adding that there was a 'very strong smell of smoke in the air.'
Alan Robinson, 71, a Catholic priest who works nearby and lives in Covent Garden, said he was worried about the 'irreplaceable' art collection in the Courtauld Gallery.
He said: 'The Courtauld Gallery is in there, I have no idea what the value of the collection is, but it's millions (of pounds) - irreplaceable stuff.'
Somerset House Trust director Jonathan Reekie said the fire broke out in the west wing of the building, which is mainly comprised of offices and 'back-of-house' facilities, and there are 'no artworks in that area'.
Mr Reekie, 59, who has been director of the trust for 10 years, confirmed the fire was spotted around middayin 'one corner of west wing'.
The site was 'immediately evacuated' and the London Fire Brigade were called. Mr Reekie says crews arrived on scene 'very quickly'.
'Everybody is safe and for now we want to let the London Fire Brigade get on and do their brilliant work,' he said. 'The west wing is mainly offices and back-of-house facilities, there are no artworks in that area.'
Mr Reekie said he was not inside the building when the fire broke out.
The London Fire Brigade is using height appliances to tackle and survey the blaze from above
People sitting outside Somerset House after it was evacuated (left). The arts centre said all staff and visitors are safe as firefighters took to the roof (right)
Smoke continues to pour from the building two hours after the fire was first reported. A drone (right) can be seen surveying the incident as firefighters look on from a ladder
Smoke rises as firefighters work at the scene of a fire at Somerset House in London today
A large poster of Vincent Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear was displayed on the railings, which is listed as a part of the Courtauld collection on the gallery's website.
Fire officers could be seen on the roof of the former stately home, which looks onto the Strand, while others used height appliances to survey and extinguish the flames from on high.
Somerset House initially said the fire was 'small' and contained within part of the building - but nevertheless opted to close. It had been due to hold London Battle, a breakdancing event, today.
In a previous statement to MailOnline, a spokesperson said:'A fire has broken out in one part of Somerset House. Our teams immediately followed our robust fire procedures and the site was evacuated promptly. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) arrived swiftly.
'We do not yet know the cause of the fire, our focus now is allowing LFB the space to do their brilliant work. All our staff and the general public are safe and are not at risk.'
Somerset House is on fire #somersethouse pic.twitter.com/JHro0jHiim
— Nick Rothwell (@rothers24) August 17, 2024
Firefighters discuss an action plan within Somerset House (left) as a height appliance is sent into the building's central courtyard (right)
The fire as seen from further up the river, past the Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges
London Fire Brigade has warned that traffic around the area will be affected (pictured: the fire as seen from Victoria Embankment, left, and seen from across the Thames, right)
It also said on X, formerly Twitter: 'Somerset House is currently closed due to a fire which has broken out in one small part of the building.
All staff and public are safe and the site is closed. The London Fire Brigade arrived swiftly and we're working very closely with them to control the spread of the fire.'
It said earlier that the London Battle breakdancing event would not take place but has since retracted that element of its statement.
The earlier statement read: 'Owing to a fire in one small part of Somerset House, the site is currently closed. London Battle and other events today will not take place. We apologise for any inconvenience.'
Somerset House was originally built as a Tudor palace for the Duke of Somerset in 1547 but is nowan arts centre describing itself as 'a home of cultural innovation and connects artists and designers with wider society'.
The current building was designed by Sir William Chambers in 1776 with further extensions added on in the Victorian era - and now hosts a combination of free and ticketed exhibitions.
