The famous 19th Century ship the Cutty Sark is "100%" ablaze and is being treated as suspicious, the London Fire Brigade said.
A fire on board the famous 19th Century ship the Cutty Sark is now under control, the London Fire Brigade said.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper is being evacuated amid fears that gas cylinders were on board.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper was evacuated amid fears that gas cylinders were on board but it has been confirmed that none were present.
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.
The ship was currently undergoing a £25m renovation and was closed to visitors.
Eight fire engines have been sent to tackle the fire which started shortly before 0500 BST.
Eight fire engines were 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."
He said the ship would be "irreplaceable".
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.
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.
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.
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."
"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 were 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.
