The famous 19th Century ship the Cutty Sark is "100%" ablaze, the London Fire Brigade has said.
The famous 19th Century ship the Cutty Sark is "100%" ablaze and is being treated as suspicious, the London Fire Brigade said.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper is being evacuated amid fears gas cylinders onboard could explode.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper is being evacuated amid fears that gas cylinders were on board.
Greenwich town centre in south-east London has been closed to traffic and the Docklands Light Railway shut.
Greenwich town centre in south-east London has been closed to traffic and the Docklands Light Railway shut.
The ship is currently closed to visitors while a £25m renovation is carried out. Eight fire engines have been sent to tackle the fire.
The ship is currently closed to visitors while a £25m renovation is carried out.
Eight fire engines have been sent to tackle the fire which started shortly before 0500 BST.
Speaking to BBC News the Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said the fire brigade told him they were treating the fire as suspicious.
Speaking to BBC News the Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said the fire brigade told him they were treating the fire as suspicious.
He said he feared what would be lost in the blaze.
He said he feared what would be lost in the blaze.
"When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself," he said.
"When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself," he said.
"And what is special about Cutty Sark is the timbers, the iron frames, that went to the South China Seas, and to think that that is threatened in any way is unbelievable, it's an unimaginable shock."
"And what is special about Cutty Sark is the timbers, the iron frames, that went to the South China Seas, and to think that that is threatened in any way is unbelievable, it's an unimaginable shock."
A spokeswoman for the brigade said "100%" of the vessel was ablaze and confirmed there were cylinders aboard but their contents had not been named.
He said the ship would be "irreplaceable".
He added said the Cutty Sark was not just an important part of maritime heritage but an important part of British identity.
Mr Doughty described the ship as the epitomy of speed under sail.
An eyewitness, who saw the fire as she was driving across the Thames, said: "I can see all this smoke billowing out from round by where the Cutty Sark is.
"It was black, thick black smoke... as I've come over the bridge there's all police cars blocking the road and everyone's being diverted."
Residents living near the ship are being evacuated from their homes and taken to a Greenwich hotel, Scotland Yard confirmed.
Residents living near the ship are being evacuated from their homes and taken to a Greenwich hotel, Scotland Yard confirmed.
The conservation work was being carried out as sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.
The conservation work was being carried out as sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.
