One of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings, the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange, caught fire on Tuesday, causing its iconic spire to collapse. The fire started in the copper roof of the building and quickly spread, leading to parts of the roof collapsing as well. Firefighters faced challenges in extinguishing the fire due to the dangerous conditions inside the building. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but efforts were made to save precious art treasures and paintings from the burning structure.
The Old Stock Exchange is located next to Christiansborg Palace and is a popular tourist attraction in Copenhagen. Its distinctive spire, in the shape of the tails of four dragons twined together, reached a height of 56 meters. As the fire raged on, huge billows of smoke rose over downtown Copenhagen, and passers-by were seen rushing inside the building to help save valuable artworks. Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt praised the efforts of emergency services and civilians in saving art treasures and iconic images from the burning building.
Emergency services, including ambulances, were present at the scene, but there were no reports of casualties. An army unit was deployed to cordon off the area, and the Danish Emergency Management Agency also assisted in combating the fire. The building had been undergoing renovations, with the roof, masonry, sandstone, and spire all being worked on. The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which currently occupies the building, was involved in the efforts to rescue paintings and art pieces.
The adjacent Christiansborg Palace has a history of fires, with several incidents occurring over the years. However, the Old Stock Exchange had previously survived unscathed. The building is not only used by the Chamber of Commerce but also hosts gala dinners, conferences, parties, and various events. Police closed a main road in Copenhagen and warned the public to expect the area to be cordoned off for some time. Bus lines were rerouted, and there were reports of significant traffic jams in the surrounding area as a result of the fire and emergency response efforts.
