Copenhagen fights the last pockets of a fire that destroyed a 400-year-old landmark

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish firefighters toiled Wednesday to extinguish the last pockets of a fire that gutted Copenhagen’s 400-year-old stock exchange building the previous day, as owners of the structure looked ahead to rebuilding the iconic landmark.

Tuesday’s blaze, which destroyed half of the building and toppled its dragon-tail spire, was believed to have started on the roof during renovations, but the cause remained unclear and police had yet to enter the burned part of the building to investigate.

No injuries were reported despite a hectic scramble in the first hour of the fire to remove valuables, with citizen volunteers helping officials and firefighters in an effort that managed to salvage much of the building’s priceless artwork.

“This is sad, so sad,” 44-year-old civil servant Mikkel Jensen said Wednesday as he looked up at twisted scaffolding still clinging to the ruins of the Old Stock Exchange.

The building, which dates from 1615 and is named the Boersen in Danish, is known for its green copper roof and distinctive 56-meter (184-foot) spire in the shape of four intertwined dragon tails.

Morten Langager, manager of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which was headquartered in the Old Stock Exchange and owned the building, said it should “rise again.” His boss, chamber head Brian Mikkelsen, said the building will be rebuilt “no matter what” and that the board backed the idea.

The building was undergoing extensive renovations, and there are detailed records of the entire structure's architecture, including photographs taken just last week of the dragon spire by the National Museum in Copenhagen.

However, no decision has yet been made about who will reconstruct the building, a project which would cost millions, if not billions of kroner (dollars). A cautious estimate said it could take up to 10 years.

Many in Denmark compared Tuesday’s fire to the April 2019 blaze at Notre Dame that destroyed the spire of the 800-year-old cathedral. Its restoration is slated for completion this year.

The extent of the damage, caused by flames and the tons of water poured to extinguish them, was still unknown.

“A lot has disappeared in the fire,” said Tim Ole Simonsen of the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department, which was working to secure remaining outer walls. Up to 40 shipping containers, filled with concrete, will be put around them to stabilize them, the fire department said.

That work will continue through the night. “The work is extensive and requires a large amount of equipment,” the fire department said in a statement.

Police hadn't yet been able to enter the burned part of the building to begin investigating the cause of the fire, said Brian Belling, a Copenhagen police officer in charge of the investigation.

“It can take a long time to find the cause of a fire,” Belling said.

When the fire engulfed the building on Tuesday, passers-by, Chamber of Commerce staff, police officers and members of an army unit that had been sent to help raced inside the building to save its treasures.

Mikkelsen, who was one of the employees who ran in, told public broadcaster DR that the building had made a plan for what to save in a “worst case” scenario. When it became too dangerous for people to go up to the first floor, firefighters with breathing gear were sent in to retrieve priceless items, he said, adding that many of the building’s most valuable contents, which included irreplaceable paintings and other works of art, had been saved.

Among items saved was the huge 1895 painting “From Copenhagen Stock Exchange" by Danish artist P.S. Krøyer, the Chamber of Commerce said.

About an hour after the first reports of the fire on Tuesday, the blaze engulfed the spire and sent it crashing onto the building, which was shrouded by scaffolding, and onto the street behind.

The fire sent huge billows of smoke over downtown Copenhagen, and many government offices located nearby remained closed Wednesday because of a strong smell of smoke in the buildings. Employees were told to work from home.

The buildings must be cleaned and their ventilation checked before government ministry staff can return, said Rasmus Brandt Lassen, head of the Danish Building and Property Agency.

“We have told them that they should expect to work at home for the rest of the week,” Brandt Lassen said.

The exchange is considered a leading example of the Dutch Renaissance style in Denmark. The Chamber of Commerce moved into the building after Copenhagen’s stock exchange left in 1974.

Its dragon spire was one of the many of topping the city's churches and castles, which have earned Copenhagen its nickname as “the city of spires.” Other copper-covered belfries include the serpentine spire of Our Savior’s Church, those of the Renaissance Rosenborg Castle downtown, and the tower of the Christiansborg Palace which houses the Danish parliament.

A main road running past the Old Stock Exchange remained closed Wednesday.

Firefighters work as smoke rise out of the Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. One of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings is on fire and its iconic spire has collapsed. The building, which is situated next to the Christiansborg Palace where the parliament sits, is a popular tourist attraction. Its distinctive spire, in the shape of the tails of four dragons twined together, reached a height of 56 meters (184 feet). (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

The spire collapses as fire and smoke rise out of the Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. One of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings is on fire and its iconic spire has collapsed. The building, which is situated next to the Christiansborg Palace where the parliament sits, is a popular tourist attraction. Its distinctive spire, in the shape of the tails of four dragons twined together, reached a height of 56 meters (184 feet). (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Fire and smoke rise out of the Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. One of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings is on fire and its iconic spire has collapsed. The copper roof of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange, or Boersen, that was once Denmark’s financial center, was engulfed in flames Tuesday. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

People ride bicycles as smoke rises from the Old Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

CEO of Danish Business, Brian Mikkelsen, and others carry paintings out of the burning building as the Stock Exchange burns in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

People react to a fire as the Old Stock Exchange building burns in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Former Danish Minister of Culture and current CEO of Danish Business, Brian Mikkelsen, left, assists with the evacuation of paintings from the Boersen burning in Copenhagen on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Fire rages from the dragon spire of the Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Fire rages from the dragon spire of the Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Firefighters work on the building after a fire broke out at the Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The fire was reported Tuesday morning in the historic building, which was undergoing renovation. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix)

Firefighters work on the building after a fire broke out at the Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The fire was reported Tuesday morning in the historic building, which was undergoing renovation. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix)

Emergency management work to finish extinguishing the fire and to secure the area in the building of the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Emergency management work in the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Emergency management work to secure the area after a fire in the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Emergency management work in the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

The Edmonton Oilers have won in these NHL playoffs with a couple of big-scoring games.

They got their latest victory when limited to 13 shots on net and with only one of those going in for a goal.

The versatile Oilers, who scored a combined 13 goals in the first two wins of their series against the Los Angeles Kings, are now back home Wednesday night with a chance to advance to the second round. Edmonton will take a fourth win in the best-of-seven series any way it can get it.

“Having in our portfolio that we can play a lot of different games is going to be huge here coming down the stretch," Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. “These games, we’re not afraid of them.”

After an extra day off since that 1-0 win on Sunday night for a 3-1 series lead, the Oilers will try to eliminate the Pacific Division rival Kings in the first round for the third year in a row when they play Game 5. Los Angeles has dropped its past four playoff series since being Stanley Cup champions 10 years ago.

The only other NHL game Wednesday night is Game 5 in Dallas, with the Stars and reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights tied 2-2. The road team has won every game in that series, with the Stars winning 4-2 on Monday night to sweep both games in Vegas after the Western Conference's No. 1 seed lost twice at home last week.

“You look at the four games, I don't think we've played a poor game yet,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “I thought the first two games in Dallas, (the Knights) were opportunistic in different situations. I loved Game 3, and for Game 4, you're going to see their best, and I thought we were good considering the situation. So I'm excited about our group getting home.”

This is now a best-of-three series, with the Dallas Stars having home-ice advantage — if that really is an advantage in this series.

After clinching the Western Conference Final in Game 6 last year in Dallas, Vegas won the first two games in this series there. The Knights are comfortable in American Airlines Center, where they also won their only two regular-season games before Christmas.

“Each team's probably had their way in one of these games,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “But in general, here we are tied 2-2, all close games. So we have to be the team that makes the right plays the next game like we did there the last trip.”

The Stars have played the past three games without forwards Mason Marchment and Radek Faska after both left with undisclosed injuries in the third period of the series opener. They have been without big-bodied defender Jani Hakanpää since mid-March because of a lower-body injury.

Ty Dellandrea, a healthy scratch for the Stars their past two games at home, scored the game-winning goal in Game 4. He also didn't play in the first two games of the West final against Vegas last year before scoring twice in the third period of Game 5 then after that game was tied.

“It’s two really good teams going at it,” Dellandra said about this series. ”We’ve kept going back and forth. It’s playoff hockey and it’s exciting.”

While enough to win, Edmonton's 13 shots in Game 4 tied a franchise record for their fewest in a playoff game.

The Kings have never allowed fewer in the playoffs, and that gives them some confidence.

“We’re facing elimination. Last game was a pretty good indicator of what we need to do. We need to play in their zone and put them on their heels, be a lot hungrier around the net,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “We just have to go and play our game. It’s win or go home, play desperate, with emotion and discipline and go from there.”

Special teams have been the difference in this series, and the only goal in Game 4 came on the Oilers' lone chance with a man advantage. That was their eighth power-play goal, while Los Angeles is the only team in the postseason without one at 0 of 11.

Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner has stopped 51 consecutive shots, including that 33-save Sunday for his first career playoff shutout.

Los Angeles interim coach Jim Hiller did not say who would start in net on Wednesday. David Rittich got the start in Game 4 and made 12 saves after Cam Talbot had a 5.31 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in the first three games.

AP Sports Writers Mark Anderson in Las Vegas and Joe Reedy in Los Angeles, and The Canadian Press contributed to this story.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) skates past Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24), goaltender Jake Oettinger (29), and center Matt Duchene (95) celebrate after Hintz's empty net goal during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, left, battles with Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, right, and defenseman Mikey Anderson during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch looks at the overhead scoreboard during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Edmonton Oilers' Mattias Ekholm (14), Evan Bouchard (2) and Zach Hyman (18) celebrate after a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of Game 1 in first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, left, makes a glove save as Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault watches during the first period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)