Prague – Dozens of firefighters responded to a fire in the historic building of the National Theater in Prague this afternoon. The first information that there was a fire in the staff locker room was ultimately not confirmed. The director of the theater Jan Burian later clarified that the fire spread through the shaft, which was led by water or heat from the basement. Firefighters managed to put out the fire, and according to them, there is no longer any danger. Most of the units therefore returned to their bases. The cause and extent of the damage are not yet clear. According to Burian, however, the timely intervention of firefighters saved incalculable values.
Thick smoke began billowing from the historic building before 3 p.m. Firefighters declared the second level of alarm. They also intervened from ladders. About a hundred employees left the theater before the fire brigade arrived. The audience was not in the theater at the time of the fire. One person follows rescuers he inhaled smoke, but hospitalization was not necessary.
The commander of the intervention, Jan Kulhánek, said on Czech television (ČT) in the early evening that the fire started in the technical facilities of the building. “The area where the smoke was spreading and where we were looking for the source of the fire was extensive. It was very difficult for the firefighters to find the source of the fire,” he said. At 5:45 p.m., according to him, only four units of firefighters remained on site, ventilating and monitoring the building.
“Thermal cameras did not discover any other hidden sources of fire. Firefighters are optimizing the number of units that will continue to monitor the theater,” theater spokesman Tomáš Staněk told ČTK in the evening. The director of the National Theater hopes that today’s event will not affect the theater’s program. According to the theater’s spokesperson, the premiere of the original ballet Scheherazade on Thursday is not in danger either. “It did not affect the auditorium or the stage in any way, so I believe that the premiere will take place on Thursday,” added the director.
The immediate vicinity of the building was closed when firefighters intervened. The operation of public transport according to website of the transport company was not limited. The trams didn’t run for only a few minutes. The police diverted the car traffic.
Czech Republic fire theater ND Praha FLESH
Source: www.ceskenoviny.cz
