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.
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, 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.
“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.”
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.
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.
“Wood Lane is currently closed to traffic and people are advised to avoid the area as the incident will 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.”
