Major fire still raging at former BBC Television Centre

London Fire Brigade firefighters (Victoria Jones/PA) Victoria Jones

About 100 firefighters are currently battling a major blaze that has engulfed a nine-storey mixed-use building in London's White City. The London Fire Brigade has deployed 15 fire engines to tackle the emergency on Wood Lane.

The fire is affecting floors towards the top of the building, which include a restaurant and an area of external decking and ducting. An unknown number of flats have also potentially been affected by the blaze.

According to footage from the scene, the fire appears to be affecting the Helios Building at Television Centre, the former home of the BBC. The broadcaster was primarily based at the location until 2012, and the building currently accommodates 162 homes, along with a gym and a 47-bedroom hotel.

Evacuation measures underway

The London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police are working together to evacuate nearby buildings as a precaution. A rest centre has been established for residents who have had to leave their homes during the emergency response.

Wood Lane has been closed to traffic and people are being advised to avoid the area entirely. The closure allows emergency vehicles unrestricted access to the scene while firefighting operations continue.

Emergency response details

First reports of the blaze were received just after 3am. Crews from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, Chiswick and surrounding fire stations have been mobilised to respond to the incident.

Two 32-metre turntable ladders are being deployed as water towers to help extinguish the fire from height. This specialist equipment allows firefighters to tackle blazes in tall buildings more effectively from elevated positions.

The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. Investigations into what sparked the blaze will likely begin once the fire is fully extinguished and the scene is deemed safe.

Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.