The fire department has been fighting the major fire for hours.

The fire at the former home of the State Operetta in Dresden-Leuben is now under control. The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) has been called in, a fire department spokesperson told the German Press Agency early this morning. The agency will remove the roof so that firefighters can reach the still-burning stoves. Around 30 firefighters are currently on site.

The fire department fought the blaze with around 150 personnel at one point. A cloud of smoke was visible from afar, and a warning was issued to the public. The building was fully ablaze, the spokesperson continued. He anticipated that the fire would keep emergency personnel busy throughout the day.

Two directly adjacent residential buildings were evacuated as a precaution. The former operetta house has been vacant for several years. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still unclear, according to a police spokesperson.