In Copenhagen, the emergency services are fighting an intense battle to preserve the remnants of the historic masonry in the partially burnt Børsbygning, which has stood as an iconic landmark in the city center for over 400 years. Following a fierce fire earlier in the week, where the flames nearly completely destroyed one half of the building, the focus is now on stabilizing and preserving what remains. Operations leader Tim Ole Simonsen from the Capital Region Emergency explained at a press conference on Thursday that a carefully planned operation has been launched to secure the building’s outer walls.
“We have already set up heavy containers filled with concrete blocks along the walls and connected them to scaffolding to prevent further damage,” he said. From Friday afternoon, emergency services will also begin removing rubble and burnt material from what was once the old exchange hall. This process will be carried out with great caution using cranes, and it is still unclear how long it will take.
“Only after we have cleared up, can we assess whether there is a need for further internal bracing of the walls,” Simonsen added. Although the effort is extensive, there are no guarantees of success. “We are working with unstable structures, and I cannot assure that we will be able to save the historic masonry,” acknowledged the operations leader.
Safety is also a major concern, as it is still too dangerous to allow access to certain parts of the building. The situation has also halted the police’s work to investigate the cause of the fire, as it is not safe to enter the most damaged areas. Therefore, it is still unclear when and how such an investigation can take place.
This tragic event has shaken many residents of Copenhagen who have seen one of the city’s most beloved historic buildings seriously damaged. The emergency services and all involved are working flat out to do what they can to preserve as much as possible of Børsen’s heritage.