Fire breaks out at Somerset House, home to priceless works by Van Gogh, Cezanne

Priceless paintings by Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh and others were unharmed Saturday after firefighters worked to douse a blaze that broke out in the roof of Somerset House, a large central London arts venue, officials said.

Heavy smoke and flames seen coming from the top of the historic building around noon had been knocked down by firefighters who poured water on it from buckets on ladder trucks.

Firefighters were working to extinguish the final pockets of flames in the early evening and were expected to be on the scene until yesterday, said Keeley Foster, assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade.

“The age and design of the building proved a challenge to crews as they initially responded,” Foster said.

The complex and technical response required the use of a 63-meter ladder to reach the flames and fire breaks had to be created in the roof to limit the spread of flames.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, Foster said.

Staff and the public were safe and artworks were not in the area of the fire, a Somerset House official said.

“A fire was spotted at about midday in one corner of the west wing, the site was immediately evacuated and the London Fire Brigade called, who arrived very quickly,” Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, said. “The west wing is mainly offices and back-of-house facilities, there are no artworks in that area.” BRIAN MELLEY, LONDON, MDT/AP