A poignant fear enveloped the city of Copenhagen as leaping flames consumed one of its most treasured landmarks. Tuesday bore witness to a devastating blaze that nearly decimated about half of the Old Stock Exchange, a prominent 17th-century structure known for its iconic dragon-tail spire, which tragically collapsed under the fierce combustion.
Believed to have started amid the renovation works on the rooftop, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Imposing in its stature, this red-brick edifice graced by a viridian copper roof is a beacon of the capital’s cultural heritage. Its distinctive 56-meter spire, resembling four coiling dragon tails, is an alluring sight that has always drawn the fascination of locals and tourists alike, neighboring the Danish parliament and the regal Christiansborg Palace.
Desperation reverberated across the capital as bells rang in warnings and sirens sang an ominous tune. The ferocious fire wasted no time, swiftly swallowing the spire before reducing it to ashes onto the building which was, at the time, sheathed in scaffoldings. Billowing smoke darkened the skyline of downtown Copenhagen, its ominous clouds visible from as far as southern Sweden across the intervening, narrow stretch of water.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen tragically acknowledged the historical blow the country had endured, expressing the agony of seeing an invaluable fragment of Denmark’s cultural heritage being consumed by flames.
Whilst the stage was alit, emergency forces collaborated in an urgent effort to save priceless artifacts. Firefighters, equipped by ample water sourced from the adjacent canal, tirelessly battled the unrelenting flames. As they cleared their way through, they rescued remarkable paintings and other valuable pieces amidst the panic.
The Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt took note of the overwhelming community response that molded into a spontaneous rescue mission, risking the inferno to salvage precious artworks and cultural icons. One such daring soul abandoned his bicycle to contribute to the fire response, helping authorities transport massive works of art to a safer locale.
The art collection that occupied the endangered premise included an opulent painting by Danish artist P.S. Krøyer, a remarkable piece dating back to 1895 famously titled, “From Copenhagen Stock Exchange”. It’s yet unclear which artworks dodged the fiery fate, although there is some footage indicating the possible rescue of the Krøyer painting.
Also present on the scene was Brian Mikkelsen, chief of the Danish Chamber of Commerce which operates from the Old Stock Exchange and owns the building. Amidst the chaos of the day, Mikkelsen worked with his team, using a photo collection as their guide to pinpoint and rescue significant paintings. The salvaged works found temporary shelter at the parliament and national archives nearby, as crowbars, and other implements were deployed to pry the treasures away from the inflamed building.
Mikkelsen, visibly shaken, voiced his concern to reporters, stating that although many priceless items were rescued, the incident nonetheless posed a national disaster.
The days following the blaze will reveal further cause and consequences, as the coppersmith company responsible for the roof renovation faces scrutiny and the fire’s origins are probed further. Meanwhile, as an immediate response, close to 90 army personnel were deployed to restrict access to the area and secure the remaining valuables.
Firefighters will tirelessly fight both fire and time as they scramble to secure the scene, a task that could stretch well over 24 hours. The loss is a blow to the nation with King Frederik describing it as the annihilation of an integral fragment of their architectural legacy. Despite this, dreams of resurrection are already stirring with Culture Minister Engel-Schmidt vowing to see the dragon spire soar over Copenhagen’s skyline once again.
As the country grieves and takes stock of the damage, the fire is an uncanny reminder of the destructive blaze in April 2019 at Notre Dame that also tragically cost the cathedral its spire. Now, there’s a new date and a new address added to the dirge – April 16, 2024, Old Stock Exchange, Copenhagen, Denmark, a casualty of a remorseless fire.
