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FIRE

No injuries in fire at Danish amusement park

A fire in a restaurant at the Bakken amusement park north of Copenhagen on Wednesday night resulted in evacuation but no injuries.

No injuries in fire at Danish amusement park
Bakken, the morning after a restaurant fire that required the attraction to be evacuated. Photo: Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix

Police were informed of a fire at the historic attraction, which is thought to be the world’s oldest theme park, at 8:34pm on Wednesday.

A small area around the scene of the fire remains sealed off on Thursday.

Bakken director Nils-Erik Winther said the amusement park would open as normal at 11am Thursday.

“There will be a small area around where the fire was that will be closed off, but everything else was fortunately unharmed,” Winther said.

Both police and fire services were dispatched to the scene Wednesday after the fire broke out, with up to 45 firefighters and 15 fire engines attending the blaze, fire service Beredskab Øst confirmed.

All guests were evacuated during the fire.

“It’s sad when something burns down but on the other hand, I’m pleased there was only material damage,” Winther said.

The park CEO praised staff and guests for their response during the incident.

“Staff guided guests out of the restaurant and Bakken was evacuated. It was very impressive to see that people were so calm and everyone respected the cordons,” he said.

The fire was “completely under control” by 9am on Thursday, fire services said. The cause of the fire will be investigated.

The park is open every day until 9pm this week, breaking with its regular seasonal opening during the school autumn holiday.

Bakken is the second-most visited tourist attraction on Zealand after the Tivoli amusement park in central Copenhagen. Its history dates back to 1583, when a natural water source was discovered in the area and it became a desired destination for local residents and Danish nobility.

READ ALSO: Copenhagen tourist traps: Six better options

FIRE

Danish firefighters to help tackle blaze in Greenland

38 firefighters from Denmark have been sent to Greenland in an attempt to put out a wildfire currently burning on the Arctic island.

Danish firefighters to help tackle blaze in Greenland
Ukkusissat in western Greenland. File photo: Linda Kastrup/Ritzau Scanpix

The firefighters will travel to Greenland, and autonomous territory of Denmark, in a Hercules aircraft supplied by the Danish military.

They will help local emergency services to fight wildfires which have blazed since the beginning of July and are persisting in peaty subterranean areas between Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq, in the western part of Greenland.

Authorities in Greenland took the step of requesting help from Denmark last weekend.

“I think it’s important for us to help and support Greenland when they ask for our help,” Danish defence minister Trine Bramsen said.

“We have a very special bond throughout our kingdom, so I listen extra carefully when the call for help comes from Greenland,” Bramsen added.

The Danish contingent consists of 16 national service soldiers, 8 volunteers and 14 specialist full-time firefighters, said Jens Oddershede, leader of the international section of the Danish Emergency Management Agency (Beredskabsstyrelsen).

“They will be particularly tasked with establishing a breakage line to contain the fire and stop it spreading further,” Oddershede said.

The Danish mission is expected to last around 14 days and cost up to 3 million kroner.

Police in Greenland believe the wildfire to have started on July 8th, caused by a smoking oven.

READ ALSO: Danish climate body wrongly reported Greenland heat record

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