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Fire causes minor damage to Brussels Conservatory
The fire brigade was called to the Royal Conservatory in Brussels’ Rue de la Régence yesterday in response to a call from a spokesperson for the CD&V party, who happened to be in a building across the street.
The building was evacuated and the street closed to traffic. The emergency services were particularly vigilant because the conservatory is next door to the Brussels’s main synagogue. “The fire appears to have broken out accidentally, but because the building is adjacent to the synagogue, all avenues are being looked into,” said the conservatory’s director Peter Swinnen.
The fire was quickly brought under control, and the source of the blaze, which broke out in an unoccupied part of the building on the second floor, is still being investigated. The school said that about 150 students and staff left the building safely, and there was only minor damage. The conservatory is currently undergoing major renovation works.
photo courtesy Ben2/Wikimedia
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Am thrilled the Conservatory is being totally renovated -- it was a major fire hazard as much of the building is in wood and I rarely saw any marked exits or smoke alarms. This fire was waiting to happen. The Conservatory has for decades been falling into ruin -- old fashioned, very "used and worn appearance", and not attractive. I always thought a major philanthropist should have donated millions for the upgrade. This doesn't happen in Belgium.