A fire broke out in one of Copenhagen's oldest buildings on Tuesday, collapsing the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby helped emergency services rescue priceless paintings and other valuables. did.
Denmark's Culture Minister Jacob Engel Schmidt said it was “touching” to see how many people stepped up “to save artistic treasures and iconic images from burning buildings.” One man jumped off his bike on his way to work to help with the effort.
Brian Mikkelsen, president of the Danish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is headquartered in the former Stock Exchange, and his staff were seen scrolling through a binder containing photos of paintings that should be preserved. They were taken to the parliament building and Denmark's National Archives, which are in close proximity to the burning building.
Denmark's military chief dismissed over Red Sea dispatch incident
“We were able to save a lot of people,” a visibly moved Mikkelsen told reporters. “It's a national disaster.”
He also took part in the effort to rescue paintings and other valuables from the flames, and said he had to use tools such as crowbars to remove them.
The fire broke out on the copper roof of the Old Stock Exchange (Bersen) on Tuesday morning and spread to most of the building and roof, causing some of it to collapse and destroying the interior of the building, fire spokesman Jakob Vested Andersen said. he said.
On April 16, 2024, fire and smoke rise from the Old Stock Exchange (also known as Belsen) in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
“The fire is still not extinguished,” Vested Andersen said, adding that half of the building was destroyed and collapsed. There is no fear of the fire spreading to other buildings, he said. Firefighters said they would be on the scene for the next 24 hours.
Copenhagen police officer Tommy Laursen said it was too early to say what caused the fire and that he expected to be able to enter the building within “a few days.”
Firefighters reportedly pumped water from a nearby canal in the gilded hall of the Old Stock Exchange, which is used for gala dinners, meetings, parties and other events, and is decorated with many paintings. Water was seen being sprayed at the entrance.
The building is located next to Christiansborg Palace, home to the Parliament, and is a popular tourist attraction, where it has been photographed millions of times. Its distinctive spire, shaped like four intertwined dragon tails, reached a height of 184 feet.
Huge plumes of smoke billowed into the sky above downtown Copenhagen, and people could be seen rushing into buildings to rescue the paintings. The plume was also visible from southern Sweden, which is separated by a narrow channel.
An ambulance was called to the scene, but there were no reports of casualties. A spokesperson for the company working on the building's renovations said all the carpenters working on the roof had come out.
The Danish Armed Forces said up to 90 army troops from nearby bases were also sent in to cordon off the area and “secure valuables.”
King Frederic wrote on Instagram that he “awoke to the sad sight” of “an important part of our architectural heritage” being destroyed by the flames.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote that it was an “irreplaceable cultural heritage” and that “a piece of Denmark's history is on fire”.
“It hurts to watch,” Frederiksen wrote on Instagram.
The building and spire were covered with scaffolding, but were later destroyed by fire. Built in 1615 and considered a prime example of the Dutch Renaissance style in Denmark, Belsen's roof, masonry, sandstone and spire were under renovation, the company said after the Copenhagen Stock Exchange withdrew in 1974. The Chamber of Commerce owns the building, according to the Chamber of Commerce, which moved into the building.
Adjacent Christiansborg Palace has been destroyed by fire several times, most recently in 1990 when a fire broke out in the Danish parliament's annex, known as the Provian Garden. However, the old stock exchange survived intact.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Its annex, located in the block behind the old stock exchange, was evacuated as a precaution, as were various ministries located in the street behind the burning building.
Police said on social media platform X that Copenhagen's main roads were closed and people should expect the area to be closed for some time. Several bus routes were rerouted and Danish media reported heavy traffic congestion in the surrounding area.
Queen Margrethe, who turned 84 on Tuesday, has scaled back her celebrations due to the fire, broadcaster TV2 reported. A Royal Life Guard band was due to perform for the former monarch outside Fredensborg Castle, where she is staying throughout the spring and summer, but that has been cancelled.