Fire at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts – major effort in Stockholm
The Stockholm Academy of Fine Arts has caught fire and a major effort is underway.
Valuable art objects have been rescued from the fire, but it is unclear whether any objects have been damaged.
– There is an imminent risk of that, says Ludvig Sääf of the rescue service.Latest news clips from Expressen.
At 3 p.m., police and emergency services were called to the Stockholm Academy of Fine Arts. The fire was described as “extensive” and a major effort is still underway, although the fire was extinguished at 5:30 p.m.
Jakobsgatan and Fredsgatan are blocked off. There are also streets around Sagerska Huset, where the Prime Minister lives.
– They are trying to expand the barriers themselves, and are working on how to have a collection point for any goods from the Academy of Fine Arts. The rescue service is flying drones over the object to gain control of the situation, Rebecca Landberg tells TT.
It is unclear what started the fire.
– The fire started on the lower floors and spread upwards, says Ludvig Sääf from the rescue service.
Art objects may have been damaged
No one has been injured, but valuables are being evacuated from the building.
Were any art objects damaged in the fire?
Were any art objects damaged in the fire?
– I can’t answer that, but there is an imminent risk of that, says Ludvig Sääf from the rescue service.
The Prime Minister helps
Employees at the Government Offices are assisting in the extinguishing work.
“Employees at the Government Offices are currently helping our neighbors at the Academy of Fine Arts by saving their art from the flames.”
Parts of their art collection will be temporarily moved into our premises while the post-fire extinguishing work is underway,” writes Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) in a comment.
Art from the 18th century
The Academy of Fine Arts has archives and collections from the 18th century onwards. The collections include everything from paintings, drawings, graphics and sculpture, textiles, furniture and other objects.
The core of the collection is the so-called reception pieces, which are the works of art that new members submit as a sample of their work. The Academy also owns one of the world’s oldest collections of plaster casts of famous sculptures.
The collection includes works by Pehr Hilleström and the first female member, Ulrica Fredrika Pasch (1735–1796).
