Blaze at Hogarth House

Historic building catches fire in the early hours Friday

Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters attended a fire in a at Hogarth House, earlier Friday morning.

The fire damaged some of the building’s ground floor and a stairwell leading from the ground to first floor. It is believed the fire started in an electrical intake cupboard on the ground floor.

The Brigade was called at 01.55 and the fire was under control by 03.14. Firefighters from Chiswick, Hammersmith and Richmond were at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is understood that none of the important documents held at the house were damaged. The fire was discovered in good time because earlier a burglar alarm had gone off.

Work on refurbishing Hogarth’s House has reached an important milestone last month when the scaffolding was taken down from the 18th century house.

The House was set to re-open to visitors in November 2009 to coincide with Hogarth’s birthday.