Major fire breaks out at Battersea Arts Centre – photos capture tower collapse

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Bystanders were seen in tears this afternoon as a large part of the much loved Battersea Arts Centre went up in flames.

I got there just after the fire had taken hold and witnessed the tragedy of the fire spreading fast and saw the tower collapse, taking much of the roof with it.

I’ll upload some video footage shortly. Please note all photos are copyrighted and can not be used without permission.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Smoke seen over the sidestreets,

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

I arrived on the scene around 4.30pm, and although there was a lot of smoke, the fire seemed quite small.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

More than 60 firefighters were on the scene.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

The flames slowly crept up the roof of the Grand Hall which was undergoing refurbishment,.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Flames reach up to the wooden tower.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Tower engulfed in smoke.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Tower is fully on fire by 4.35pm.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

The top part of the roof is now ablaze.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

The tower is consumed by flames.
Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Tower collapses, taking a chunk of the roof with it.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

At this point, fire and police officers instructed everyone to move away from the area.

Major fire at Battersea Arts Centre in photos, Friday 13th March 2015

Discuss this fire on the urban75 forums.

All photos © Mike Urban/brixtonbuzz.com

6 Comments on “Major fire breaks out at Battersea Arts Centre – photos capture tower collapse”

  1. I’m angry. How on earth did this happen with all the health and safety that tyrannises us these days? It shouldn’t do this but it does. This building, a rare icon of art and culture attempting to provide a balance of humanity and discussion in a London heading into the abyss of corporate greed, temporarily in the care of builders, is consumed in the middle of the day by an apparently unstoppable fire. I just hope that my most cynical fears have no basis.

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