Fire at Somerset House in London, Van Gogh's masterpiece remains unscathed

On August 17, a fire broke out at Somerset House, an important landmark in central London, UK, attracting widespread attention. Fortunately, the fire caused no casualties and no precious collections were damaged.

According to reports from media such as the BBC and the Evening Standard on August 18, the fire broke out at noon on August 17, and billowing black smoke rose into the air, clearly visible on both sides of the Thames. After receiving the alarm, the London Fire Department acted quickly, dispatching at least 20 fire engines and about 125 firefighters to the scene.

Somerset House, an ancient building that originated in the 16th century and was once the residence of Queen Elizabeth I before her coronation. After being rebuilt in the late 18th century, it has been expanded and renovated several times and has now become a large complex and is the office location for several art and education-related institutions. The Courtauld Gallery is located on the north side of Somerset House and houses works by masters such as Van Gogh and Monet, including Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear".

Ricky, the director of the Somerset House Trust, said the fire originated on the west side of the palace, mainly in some offices and logistical support departments. It is currently difficult to determine the specific damage to the building, but the damage is limited to a small part. As of now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the Courtauld Gallery reopened on August 18.

British media pointed out that this fire at the cultural heritage site has sounded the "alarm bell" for fire prevention in ancient buildings. These centuries-old buildings lacked modern fire-fighting facilities when they were originally designed, and the advancement of fire protection renovations is difficult. For example, for some ancient buildings that are private properties, the "private residence" part is not subject to fire safety regulations. Many owners are reluctant to install fire protection systems for fear of spoiling the building's aesthetics. Some fire experts have said that if Windsor Castle had installed sprinkler fire extinguishing devices in advance, perhaps the fire in 1992 could have been avoided.