05/20/2008

World-Famous Concert Hall in Flames

Firefighters Battle Blaze at Berlin Philharmonic

Over 20 fire engines and 100 firefighters rushed to the Berlin Philharmonic after a fire broke out. No one was injured but the rush was on to put out the blaze and save the instruments inside from damage.

Massive plumes of smoke billowed across central Berlin on Tuesday as over 100 firefighters battled to put out a blaze at Berlin's Philharmonic concert hall.

The fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. and 21 fire engines and 110 firefighters immediately rushed to the building, which is located next to Berlin's central Tiergarten park. Visitors who had been attending a lunchtime concert were evacuated from the building, and musicians could be seen rushing from the building with their instruments.

At first firefighters had difficulties entering the building and were attempting to extinguish the fire from the outside. Police say the blaze appears to have started in the attic, though they do not yet know the cause. "We don’t believe anyone is in danger, as the fire appears to be contained in the roof," Marco Trenn, spokesman for the firefighters, told the Associated Press.

Fire officers are now trying to make sure the priceless instruments stored in the Philharmonic are saved from smoke, flames and water.

The world-famous yellow building, designed by Hans Scharoun, is widely regarded as having some of the best acoustics of any concert hall in the world. The Philharmonic opened in 1963 with a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

The building is home to the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra, whose chief conductor is Sir Simon Rattle and which is regarded as one of the finest in the world.

smd/ap

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