A significant fire broke out early Thursday morning in a new construction site in Harlev, located in East Jutland, Denmark. The fire, which started around 11:00 AM, devastated three buildings that shared a common roof structure. According to Operations Manager Johnny Damgård from the East Jutland Fire Department (Østjyllands Brandvæsen), the entire construction has suffered severe damage from both the flames and the substantial amount of water used to extinguish the fire. “The roof has been heavily damaged by the fire and needs to be completely replaced,” Damgård stated. He added that the structure has sustained extensive fire damage and significant water damage. Fortunately, the three buildings were still under construction and did not have any residents when the fire broke out. A couple of workers present at the site managed to evacuate without injury.

Firefighters gained almost complete control over the blaze by around 3:45 PM; however, efforts to extinguish the remaining flames continue. To combat the fire effectively, a crane has been ordered to remove parts of the damaged roof, and a large vacuum truck, also known as a ‘mammutsluger’ (literally ‘mammoth sucker’), will be used to extract cellulose granules that are often used as insulation from the roof.

It remains unclear how long the firefighters will need to remain on site, but Johnny Damgård estimates that work will continue for several hours. The extensive nature of the damage means that the fire department must be thorough in their aftercare to prevent any potential reignitions.