Firefighters are responding to a fire that broke out at the former BBC headquarters in London’s White City in the early hours of Saturday. The London Fire Brigade reported that approximately 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were dispatched shortly after 3 AM to the nine-storey building on Wood Lane.
The blaze primarily affected the Helios Building, which has been transformed into residential flats and a restaurant. Smoke was still visible from the rooftop rotunda as late as Saturday morning, with firefighters utilizing a drone to assist in managing the situation. Crews from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, and Chiswick were called to the scene, and two 32-metre turntable ladders were deployed to combat the fire from above. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.
In a statement, the fire service indicated that the fire was impacting the upper floors of the building and that external decking, ducting, and an unknown number of flats were potentially affected. As a safety precaution, nearby buildings are being evacuated, and a rest center has been set up for displaced residents. The London Ambulance Service sent an ambulance crew, incident response officer, and a hazardous area response team to the location, with one person treated on-site.
Residents nearby reported being alerted to the fire by the smell of smoke. One resident described a thick smoke presence and noted a significant number of firefighters at the scene. Another resident expressed concern about the potential severity of the fire but was relieved that it appeared no fatalities had occurred.
The London Fire Brigade indicated that firefighting efforts would continue for several hours as they worked to investigate the situation. Roads in the area remain closed, and the public is advised to avoid the vicinity while emergency services are active. The Helios Building comprises 162 homes, a gym, and a 47-bedroom hotel and was part of the BBC’s Television Centre until the broadcaster relocated in 2013.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/06/fire-bbc-hq-london-television-centre-helios-building