Bozar closed for at least a week after roof fire

Bozar will remain closed until at least next week after a fire on its roof left one firefighter requiring hospital treatment.

No works were damaged in the fire, which was spotted on the Royal Palace side of the building shortly after 16.00 on Monday.

Ten fire engines attended the scene, the first of which arrived in less than 10 minutes. By 19.00 it been contained but not fully extinguished.

The roof fire smouldered over a large area of the building and came from the insulation between the roof and the top floor ceiling.

"It did not spread towards the surrounding buildings and the interior damage is limited," a fire brigade spokesman said. One firefighter was seriously injured and is being treated in hospital.

Rue Royale and the Place des Palais had to be closed to traffic while firefighters attended the scene.

A private contractor was due to visit late on Monday evening to cover the roof and pump out water from the affected rooms of the museum.

Museum officials hope to be allowed to enter parts of the building affected by the fire on Tuesday to gain a full picture of the damage caused. The cause of the fire is not yet clear.

The launch on Tuesday of Bozar's exhibitions on the Democratic Republic of Congo has been cancelled - and the whole venue will be inaccessible to the public until at least next Monday.