A large fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday at the Helios Building, part of the former BBC Television Centre in London’s White City.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were called to the nine-storey building on Wood Lane shortly after 3am. The blaze is affecting the upper floors, including a restaurant, decking, and ventilation ducts. Several flats are also thought to have been damaged.
Crews from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, and Chiswick joined the response, using two 32-metre ladders as water towers to tackle the fire from above. The cause is still unknown.
The London Ambulance Service confirmed that one person was treated at the scene. Nearby buildings have been evacuated as a precaution, and a rest centre has been set up for residents forced to leave their homes. Police have also closed off several nearby roads, urging people to avoid the area.
According to the building’s website, the Helios houses 162 homes, a gym, and a 47-room hotel. The complex was once part of the BBC’s headquarters before the broadcaster moved to Broadcasting House in 2013.
The fire brigade said crews are expected to remain at the site for several more hours to fully extinguish the flames and investigate the damage.
