A fire broke out at a block of flights featured as the Trotter’s home in Only Fools And Horses.
Harlech Tower, in Acton, west London, was used to portray Nelson Mandela House in the opening credits of the beloved sitcom.
At about 7.40pm on Thursday, firefighters were called to tackle a blaze inside a flat on the seventh floor of the 13-storey building, the London Fire Brigade said.
Part of a flat on the seventh floor of a 13 storey building is alight on Park Road East in #Acton. Around 40 people evacuated before the Brigade arrived. https://t.co/7P5IHpkvcd pic.twitter.com/iJ2xfMVUj2
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 18, 2019
The tower was evacuated and about 40 people were asked to leave their homes while crews with eight fire engines dealt with the blaze, according to the fire brigade.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, firefighters said.
Harlech Tower is soon to be demolished as part of a £650 million regeneration of the area which will see more than 3,500 homes built.
In March, a petition was launched to erect a statue of Derek “Del Boy” Trotter at the site, with comedy TV channel Gold asking Ealing Council to allow them to mark the spot.
Only Fools And Horses star John Challis, who played Boycie in the series, shared his support for the petition.
Challis said: “The tower carries a lot of nostalgia for many of us – not just the cast, but everyone who has enjoyed watching the show over the years.
“While we don’t want to stand in the way of any progress being made, we do want to commemorate the tower’s long-standing connection to Only Fools And Horses and its British comedy legacy.
“Join me in signing Gold’s online petition calling for a plaque or Del Boy statue to be installed on site to celebrate the famous block.”
The fire on Park Road East in #Acton is now under control. At the height of the blaze our 999 Control centre received 15 calls alerting them to the incident. https://t.co/7P5IHpkvcd pic.twitter.com/apS25A4VEZ
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 18, 2019
Only Fools And Horses first aired on the BBC in 1981 and featured the colourful escapades of market trader Del Boy – played by Sir David Jason – and his less streetwise younger brother Rodney, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.
Its seventh regular series aired in 1991 and was followed by sporadic Christmas specials until the show ended in 2003.
Sir David and Lyndhurst reprised their roles as Del Boy and Rodney for a 2014 Sport Relief special starring David Beckham.
Despite Harlech Tower being in Acton, Only Fools And Horses was set 13 miles away in Peckham, south-east London.