Firefighters are battling a significant blaze at London’s former BBC headquarters in White City. The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday at the Helios Building, part of the Television Centre complex that has been converted into flats, a restaurant, and a hotel.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were deployed to the nine-storey building on Wood Lane shortly after 3 a.m. Two 32-metre turntable ladders were also used as water towers to fight the fire from above.
Smoke continued to rise from the rooftop rotunda late Saturday morning, with firefighters using a drone to assess the situation. Crowds gathered in the streets to watch and take photos, capturing the intensity of the blaze.
The fire service reported that the flames were mainly affecting the top floors of the building. A restaurant, its external decking, and ducting were alight, and an unknown number of flats may have been affected. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution by both the fire service and the Metropolitan Police. A rest centre was established for displaced residents, while the London Ambulance Service dispatched an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, and a hazardous area response team. One person received treatment at the scene.
The Salvation Army assisted emergency workers by handing out sandwiches during the operation. Firefighters from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, and Chiswick were drafted in to support the response.
Residents described the scale of the fire. One resident in the flats at the Television Centre said they were woken at 3 a.m. by their partner returning from work. “We could really smell the smoke; it was thick. There were about 100 firefighters and eight or nine fire engines. I could see a red glow that looked almost otherworldly,” they said.
Li Mei, who lives across the road, added, “There was so much smoke. We were worried it might get worse. Thank God it seems like nobody has died.”
The LFB stated that the fire was ongoing and crews would remain on-site for several more hours to fully investigate and control the flames. Some roads in the White City area remain closed, and the public is advised to avoid the area until the emergency response is completed.
The Helios Building is part of the former BBC Television Centre, which served as the broadcaster’s headquarters until 2013, when operations moved to Broadcasting House on Portland Place. The complex now houses 162 flats, a gym, and a 47-bedroom hotel, alongside the commercial spaces affected by the fire.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and have urged residents to follow safety instructions. Firefighters are focusing on preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings, with containment efforts ongoing.
This fire marks one of the most significant incidents at the Television Centre since its conversion into residential and commercial use. Investigators are expected to examine the site thoroughly once the fire is extinguished to determine its cause and assess any structural damage.
