![\"PA](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1473\/live\/899b7390-8b31-11f0-8abb-4d8cd1fe8125.jpg.webp\")
PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirefighters have been tackling a <\/b>“complex fire” for 12 hours in a restaurant at the BBC’s former Television Centre headquarters in west London.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It is not known what caused the fire, LFB said. <\/p>\n Nearby buildings were also evacuated as a precaution and a rest centre was set up for those who had to leave their homes.<\/p>\n The Salvation Army could be seen handing out sandwiches to emergency workers.<\/p>\n Firefighters remained at the scene at 15:00 BST, about 12 hours after the brigade was first called.<\/p>\n LFB described it as a “complex fire” but said crews were “continuing to make steady progress”.<\/p>\n A resident who lives in one of the converted flats at the site said he could smell the smoke at 03:00.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “We could see about 100 firefighters and at least eight or nine fire engines that were all parked up. <\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The London Ambulance Service said it treated one patient at the scene, who was then discharged.<\/p>\n “The incident is ongoing and we remain on scene as a precaution, working closely with our emergency services partners,” the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n “We heard a knock on the door and it was the fire brigade telling us to evacuate,” she said.<\/p>\n “There was smoke all in the corridor – it was very scary. I left everything and we’re now down here in our pyjamas.<\/p>\n “I have no nappies and nothing else.”<\/p>\n LFB said it was called out shortly after 03:00, with crews drafted in from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington and Chiswick.<\/p>\n Two large turntable ladders were being used to tackle the fire from a height. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan posted on X to thank LFB for its work tackling the “major fire”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n LFB said the restaurant, external decking and ducting had all been alight.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “Wood Lane is currently closed to traffic and people are advised to avoid the area as the incident will remain ongoing for some time.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n “We can confirm that residents and staff members were evacuated safely.<\/p>\n “We are hugely grateful to the London Fire Brigade for their swift response and to the Metropolitan Police for their support.<\/p>\n “We continue to work closely with the emergency services and local authorities to ensure the building is secure.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20250828-055926-c20c0c03f5-2.28.1-2\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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London Fire Brigade<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Police](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6066\/live\/700fcb00-8af1-11f0-a36e-ed70935fdf97.jpg.webp\")
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