Massive tragedy unfolding... Notre Dame Cathedral on fire
- Thread starter Gary7
- Start date
Yes, thankfully nobody was hurt, and hopefully the firefighters will remain safe. Fire broke out about 7pm Paris time. Tourists had been ushered out an hour prior. So, a good thing it didn't break out earlier in the day, or on a weekend when there would be more people inside.
The timing reminds me of a fire that broke out in a neighbor's house. It was the end of the day and the workers that were repairing the roof had left, when a small swatch of flames appeared less than an hour later. Fire department was called and they arrived very quickly. Thankfully they stopped it in its tracks. The cause? One of the workers had made a mistake on the repair technique being used that involved heating up a special material. Too much heat in one spot that created a small burning ember that eventually expanded. The workers weren't properly certified (the company manager had misled my neighbors--the firm was fined pretty heavily by the city).
You would think that with something as priceless and historic as Notre Dame Cathedral, there would be such strict regulations on the qualifications of workers and daily inspections of the work done to ensure safety. But again... at this point we still don't know the actual cause. It may not necessarily be due to direct negligence of a worker.
The timing reminds me of a fire that broke out in a neighbor's house. It was the end of the day and the workers that were repairing the roof had left, when a small swatch of flames appeared less than an hour later. Fire department was called and they arrived very quickly. Thankfully they stopped it in its tracks. The cause? One of the workers had made a mistake on the repair technique being used that involved heating up a special material. Too much heat in one spot that created a small burning ember that eventually expanded. The workers weren't properly certified (the company manager had misled my neighbors--the firm was fined pretty heavily by the city).
You would think that with something as priceless and historic as Notre Dame Cathedral, there would be such strict regulations on the qualifications of workers and daily inspections of the work done to ensure safety. But again... at this point we still don't know the actual cause. It may not necessarily be due to direct negligence of a worker.
https://nypost.com/2019/04/11/work-begins-on-notre-dame-cathedral-restoration/
They just started some restoration. In any kind of work site there would be lots of wooden material laying around. All it could take is some cigarette butt thrown or accidentally falling somewhere to start a fire. And with lots of very old wood inside it wouldn't take much to spread
You would think that given the priceless and historic nature of Notre Dame that a worker tossing a cigarette butt would be absolutely unheard of -- that workers on such a job like this would be so very careful. I can't imagine they'd hire a firm that would commit such gross negligence.https://nypost.com/2019/04/11/work-begins-on-notre-dame-cathedral-restoration/
They just started some restoration. In any kind of work site there would be lots of wooden material laying around. All it could take is some cigarette butt thrown or accidentally falling somewhere to start a fire. And with lots of very old wood inside it wouldn't take much to spread
But the wood... interior is nicknamed "the forest" for the massive wooden beams used, each made from a single tree. The trees were specifically selected for their length and diameter. You'd expect that they must have been treated with some fire retardant materials in more recent times but that would have limitations.
This is just horrific.
Maybe it wasn't an accident.
There has been vandalism and fire set in churches in various locations in France in the past few months.
There has been vandalism and fire set in churches in various locations in France in the past few months.
Oh no...
One of the twin towers is on fire now. The entire roof has collapsed. This is not looking good for the cathedral. If they don't contain it within the next hour or so, the whole building could be lost.
One of the twin towers is on fire now. The entire roof has collapsed. This is not looking good for the cathedral. If they don't contain it within the next hour or so, the whole building could be lost.
Last edited:
I am in tears right now. Ever since I was little, I always loved Notre Dame de Paris. I always wanted to go to visit, and never got the chance. Now it looks like I may never get to see it.
A woman here at worked blames President Donald Trump.
As above, it seems like a lot of people will never get to visit it now.
Live news coverage, but it's dark looks like most of it is gone.
Of course the exterior stone will probably remain.
As above, it seems like a lot of people will never get to visit it now.
Live news coverage, but it's dark looks like most of it is gone.
Of course the exterior stone will probably remain.
Your 101st then I suppose?
It's continuation of "Blame Bush for every disaster, natural or not".
Those people are just pure idiots, but they are easy to spot. Just ignore them and walk away.
They will rebuild it. They must. It is an icon for the heart of Paris, perhaps all of France. I read one translated tweet that while this has been going on, there has been an effort to retrieve as many relics and valued objects as possible. But wow... already the damage that has been done, it will take many years to restore this treasure... and it will never be as it was. I had the good fortune to visit it in the summer of 2000 and have fond memories of the experience. My heart goes out to France and its people. This is such a devastating tragedy.
It will be rebuilt. It may take 10 years, but it will be done. One of the news sites said that firefighters were able to save some of the most treasured items in the very beginning of the fire. But a lot of statues other heavy artifacts would not be able to be moved quickly. :/
Also they had just moved many of the statues about a week before to a different location. That's a good thing for sure.
Similar threads
