Fire Rages Through Copenhagen's 17th-Century Old Stock Exchange

Huge billows of smoke rose over Denmark's capital and people were seen rushing inside the building to save paintings.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — One of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings is on fire and its iconic spire has collapsed.

The fire that began Tuesday in the copper roof of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange, or Boersen, has now spread to much of the building, and parts of the roof have also collapsed, said firefighters’ spokesman Jakob Vedsted Andersen.

The fire was first reported at 7:30 a.m.

“The extinguishing work is very difficult,” said Vedsted Andersen, adding there are parts of the building the firefighters cannot enter because it is too dangerous.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.