# Børsen Fire

The fire at Børsen was an extensive building fire that broke out on the morning of April 16, 2024, in Copenhagen.

## Course of the Fire

An alarm was raised to the fire department at 7:36 am. The Capital Region Emergency Services stated in its daily report that there was "a strong fire on the roof and in the underlying floors" and immediately deployed massive forces to the firefighting effort.
It was observed that a fire had broken out around the tower, prompting the police to cordon off surrounding streets. By 8 o'clock, it was reported that there were no more people inside the building. The building was undergoing renovation, with ten workers present when the fire broke out. The fire started around the area where the workers were operating. The cause of the fire is still unknown, although the fire department speculates it may be related to the ongoing renovation work. However, the police state that it may take several months to determine the cause of the fire. The spire of the tower broke off at 8:30 am. The top spire has been located subsequently.
During the afternoon, the fire came under control, and efforts transitioned to damping down the remaining embers. The building's owner, Dansk Erhverv, has decided that the building will be rebuilt "regardless of the circumstances." A total of 135 people have been involved in saving the building.
On the afternoon of April 18, shortly after 5 pm, the north side of the burnt sections of Børsen collapsed inwards, taking parts of the western gable with it. Shortly after, the Capital Region Emergency Services could confirm that no persons were missing after the incident. Efforts then swiftly focused on removing the heavy scaffolding attached to the building. The Capital Region Emergency Services also reintroduced water spraying after the collapse, as smoke/fire re-emerged.

## Impact

Børsen housed several old and significant paintings, which have been rescued by authorities and citizens. Paintings such as "From Copenhagen's Stock Exchange" by P.S. Krøyer and "The Danish Chamber of Commerce Committee and CEO 1995" by Thomas Kluge, which is also known as the sister painting to "From Copenhagen's Stock Exchange."
As Dansk Erhverv's headquarters were located in Børsen, employees will have to work from home for the time being, stated the organization's director, Brian Mikkelsen, during a press briefing after the fire.

## Reactions

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has referred to the fire as Denmark's Notre Dame moment. Interestingly, the fire at Børsen occurred the day after the 5th anniversary of the Notre Dame fire in Paris.
The Royal House released a statement from King Frederik, in which the king referred to Børsen as "a beautiful symbol of our capital and a construction we as a nation have been proud of." The king also thanked the emergency services for their efforts. Additionally, the Royal House canceled a planned concert with the Royal Guards Music Corps in honor of Queen Margrethe's birthday.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) addressed the fire in a social media post, describing the incident as "a piece of Danish history on fire." She also expressed that "it hurt to see" and thanked the emergency services, police, military, and all personnel "bravely fighting the fire."