Berlin Philharmonic Optimistic After Fire

Firefighters have completely extinguished a fire at the downtown home of the Berlin Philharmonic and the orchestra is already searching for a venue to continue its performances in the meantime, officials said Wednesday.

Authorities put out the fire late Tuesday, but crews were still on hand early Wednesday to scan for possible hot spots, according to Jens-Peter Wilke, a spokesman for the Berlin fire department.

More than 150 firefighters and more than 30 vehicles were employed to extinguish the flames.

To battle the blaze, firefighters were forced to tear about 1,600 square metres of roof from the tent-like building designed by Hans Scharoun.

"It was a large portion of the roof," Wilke said.

An investigation into the source of the fire is continuing, but some believe it may have been sparked by welding work conducted earlier Tuesday.

Cultural officials said they believe the main performance hall — renowned for its acoustics — sustained only minor water damage.

The fire broke out in the early afternoon, and no one was injured. Musicians working alongside firefighters were able to remove dozens of valuable instruments into a neighbouring building.

Firefighters brought a fire at the famed home of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra under control on Tuesday, but the full extent of the damage to one of the world's great concert halls remained unclear.

The fire commander at the scene said that more some 1,600 square meters of the roof had been destroyed, both from the fire and from rescue efforts.

The police said there were no injuries in the fire, which took hold just before a rehearsal that was open to the public. The authorities said many of the orchestra's musical instruments had been saved, but there was some doubt about the condition of some heavy pieces, including as concert grand pianos. The fire brigade said efforts to extinguish the blaze could themselves have caused extensive water damage.

A fire broke out Tuesday at the Berlin Philharmonic's home, sending thick smoke pouring from the crest of the iconic downtown building as firefighters and musicians rushed to save instruments.

The blaze broke out beneath the roof of the building directly over the main concert hall, which seats 2,500 and is famed for its extraordinary acoustics. The cause was not immediately clear, said Marco Trenn, a spokesman for Berlin firefighters. No flames were visible from the outside.

"We don't believe anyone is in danger, as the fire appears to be contained to the roof," Trenn said. No instruments were believed to be in danger either, he added.

Still, he said firefighters faced the job of cutting holes in the tent-shaped roof, which is 160 feet (50 meters) above the ground, to get at the fire. "To fight this is not simple," he said.