Historic building in Rhineland-Palatinate catches fire
This belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage and is landmark of the city according to the mayor: The "House Four Towers" in Bad Ems. Now the historical building is on fire. Firefighting efforts are ongoing. Parts of the building are, however, likely lost forever.
The historical "House Four Towers" in the Rhineland-Palatinate Bad Ems is on fire. The building caught fire early this morning for unknown reasons, according to the district administration of Rhein-Lahn-Kreis. Around 150 firefighting personnel are on site. According to a spokesperson, the "House Four Towers" was being renovated, so no one was in the building at the time. No injuries have been reported.
City Mayor Oliver Krügel stated that he has been on site since early morning hours. "What is particularly bitter is that the historic roof truss is on fire," he said. "That's gone for good." The building, also known as Karlsburg, dates back to the 17th century. "It's certainly a landmark for the city," said Krügel. "It's also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Spa Towns of Europe."
The baroque building with four corner towers was once, according to the Tourism Association, the unofficial summer residence of Tsar Alexander II. "It's sad for the city of Bad Ems," said Krügel. According to reports, a hotel was supposed to move in this year, which was to open this year. The district administration asks that the surrounding area be avoided.
The firefighting efforts are expected to last until the afternoon, according to a spokesperson of Rhein-Lahn-Kreis. "Right now, only the outside is being extinguished, no image from the inside has been made yet." Therefore, it is still unclear how extensive the damage is or what the cause of the fire could be.
The fire department from Rhineland-Palatinate is assisting in the firefighting efforts at the "House Four Towers". International experts in fire restoration and preservation of historical buildings have been contacted by the city council to help mitigate any further damage. The "House Four Towers", being a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Spa Towns of Europe, has been added to the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the fire.
