Firefighters tackle major west London blaze at former BBC Television Centre
Iain Hoey
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Fire crews respond to overnight fire in White City
Firefighters have spent more than 12 hours tackling a fire at the former BBC Television Centre in west London.
According to the BBC, London Fire Brigade (LFB) sent 15 fire engines and about 100 firefighters to the scene in White City at 03:08 BST on Saturday after the blaze broke out inside a restaurant at the site.
The fire was described by LFB as “complex”, with flames affecting the rooftop rotunda, restaurant, external decking and ducting.
Smoke continued to rise from the building late on Saturday morning as crews used a drone to monitor the fire from above.
Crowds gathered in the plaza while a police cordon kept the area sealed off and nearby buildings were also evacuated.
Emergency services manage evacuations and safety
LFB confirmed that residents and businesses were evacuated as a precaution, with a rest centre set up for displaced people.
The Salvation Army provided food to emergency workers supporting the response.
The London Ambulance Service said one person was treated at the scene and later discharged.
A spokesperson said: “The incident is ongoing and we remain on scene as a precaution, working closely with our emergency services partners.”
Television Centre management confirmed in a statement that all residents and staff were evacuated safely and that they continue to work with police and local authorities to secure the site.
Resident accounts of the incident
Residents living in the converted flats within the Television Centre reported being woken by smoke and fire crews in the early hours.
One resident told the BBC that smoke was “quite thick” and visible at around 03:00.
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.”
Another resident, Isabela Brooker, said she was evacuated from her seventh-floor flat at 04:30 with her eight-month-old son Rafael.
She said: “We heard a knock on the door and it was the fire brigade telling us to evacuate.
“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.”
Multi-agency response and road closures
LFB reported that crews were supported by fire stations from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington and Chiswick.
Two large turntable ladders were used to fight the fire from above.
The brigade said it worked alongside the Metropolitan Police to ensure evacuations and manage public safety in the area.
Wood Lane, which runs beside the complex, was closed to traffic.
People were advised to avoid the area while the incident remained ongoing.
Political response and public messaging
The mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, posted on X thanking LFB for its work in tackling the fire.
Television Centre management issued a statement confirming that the blaze had been contained by Saturday morning.
The company said: “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.”
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
This incident highlights the challenges of tackling fires in complex mixed-use developments that include restaurants, residential flats and media facilities.
It demonstrates the scale of response required in dense urban areas, with more than 100 firefighters deployed and multiple agencies working together.
The use of drones by LFB to monitor fire progress underlines the increasing role of technology in operational response.
For fire safety professionals, the incident reinforces the importance of evacuation planning, multi-agency coordination and risk management in refurbished and repurposed high-rise buildings.
Firefighters tackle major west London blaze at former BBC Television Centre: Summary
Firefighters tackled a blaze at the former BBC Television Centre in White City, west London.
London Fire Brigade said the fire broke out at around 03:08 BST on Saturday.
About 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines attended the nine-storey building.
The fire involved a restaurant, rooftop rotunda, external decking and ducting.
Residents and staff were evacuated from the Television Centre complex.
Nearby buildings were also cleared as a precaution.
A rest centre was set up for those displaced.
The Salvation Army provided food for emergency workers.
London Ambulance Service treated one patient, who was later discharged.
Smoke was still rising from the site late on Saturday morning.
Two large turntable ladders were used to fight the fire.
The mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, thanked LFB for its response.
Television Centre management said the blaze was contained.
The cause of the fire has not been confirmed.