Fire at London's Former BBC Headquarters Prompts Major Evacuation

LONDON — A major fire has broken out at the former BBC Television Centre in west London, now a residential and commercial complex, prompting the evacuation of residents and a large-scale emergency response.

More than 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were dispatched to the nine-storey building in Wood Lane, White City, after the fire began in the early hours of Saturday, 6 September 2025. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that the blaze started in a restaurant and had spread to external decking and ducting.

According to LFB, they were called shortly after 07:45 NST (03:00 BST). Crews from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, and Chiswick were on the scene, using two large turntable ladders to fight the flames from above.

Residents, including Isabela Brooker and her eight-and-a-half-month-old son, were evacuated from their flats. Brooker, who lives on the seventh floor, described being woken by a knock at her door at 09:15 NST (04:30 BST), saying, "There was smoke all in the corridor—it was very scary." She left with her son in her pyjamas and without any essentials like nappies.

At 12:45 NST (08:00 BST), LFB issued an update confirming that the fire remained ongoing. A rest centre has been set up for evacuated residents, and a section of Wood Lane is closed to traffic.

The London Ambulance Service reported that it treated one person at the scene, who was subsequently discharged. There have been no other reported casualties. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and authorities, including the Metropolitan Police, are at the scene as the incident is expected to continue for some time.