keithisco 4,703 #1 Posted April 15 Notre Dame Cathedral is ablaze this evening... Quote A fire has broken out at the famous Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear, but officials say that it could be linked to renovation work. Images on social media show plumes of smoke billowing into the air above the 850-year-old Gothic building. Last year, the Catholic Church in France launched an urgent appeal for funds to save the cathedral, which was starting to crumble. A major operation is under way to tackle the blaze, which broke out on Monday afternoon. An area surrounding the building in central Paris has been cleared, officials said. Read more and video 1 12 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevewinn 9,453 #2 Posted April 15 (edited) i thought i could smell burning. Edited April 15 by stevewinn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavenHawk 9,207 #3 Posted April 15 What of historical or art import is inside that part of the Cathedral? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keithisco 4,703 #4 Posted April 15 It appears that the Spire (La Fleche - the Arrow) has now collapsed onto the Lady Chapel 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keithisco 4,703 #5 Posted April 15 Live reporting from France 24 HERE 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevewinn 9,453 #6 Posted April 15 sky news live as well, tried posting before but got sweet brown. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keithisco 4,703 #7 Posted April 15 Henry V (of Agincourt fame) was crowned King in Notre Dame Cathedral. Looks like all of the roofs have been consumed by fire as well...desperately sad 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumbledore the Awesome 45,817 #8 Posted April 15 (edited) -- Edited April 15 by Vlad the Mighty Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pallidin 9,937 #9 Posted April 15 I could suggest exactly which ideologic group is responsible, but on this site it might be considered "insensitive" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raptor Witness 1,321 #10 Posted April 15 How sad ..... one would think that in Paris they would have flying water tankers at the ready. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Wistman 5,431 #11 Posted April 15 Devastated. One of the stupendous structures, filled with history and artistic splendor. I'm speechless. 3 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tatetopa 10,505 #12 Posted April 15 6 minutes ago, pallidin said: I could suggest exactly which ideologic group is responsible, but on this site it might be considered "insensitive" Well you might want to keep an open mind and listen to the fire fighters who think it might have started in a renovation project. 8 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skliss 6,025 #13 Posted April 15 Nooooooo....inexpressibly sad!! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumbledore the Awesome 45,817 #14 Posted April 15 Any guesses who Macron will choose to insinuate might be responsible? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dark_Grey 14,511 #15 Posted April 15 (edited) 11 minutes ago, pallidin said: I could suggest exactly which ideologic group is responsible, but on this site it might be considered "insensitive" I don't know what you're talking about. Diversity is our strength. Link Quote "Some politicians have claimed the country’s Christian heritage is under threat from petty criminals encouraged by “militant secularism”. Figures released by French police showed that 875 of France’s 42,258 churches were vandalised last year. A further 129 churches reported thefts from the premises. The interior ministry said that 59 cemeteries were also vandalised. While the figures are down on the previous year when there were 1,045 acts of vandalism and 109 thefts they are still at a “worrying level”, according to Le Figaro. Republicans MP Valerie Boyer said: “Every day, at least two churches are profaned.” Edited April 15 by Dark_Grey 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raptor Witness 1,321 #16 Posted April 15 It’s way too early to speculate about the Cause & Origin, but the fact that it was under construction, is an obvious suspicion. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Wistman 5,431 #17 Posted April 15 2 minutes ago, Tatetopa said: Well you might want to keep an open mind and listen to the fire fighters who think it might have started in a renovation project. There appears to have been major scaffolding suspended across the center of the roof. The images show the flames licking around the scaffolds. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keithisco 4,703 #18 Posted April 15 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Vlad the Mighty said: Any guesses who Macron will choose to insinuate might be responsible? "Gilet Jaune"?? Edited April 15 by keithisco 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pallidin 9,937 #19 Posted April 15 (edited) Yes, it does appear tentatively evident that is was a construction related cause. Edit: Remodeling Edited April 15 by pallidin 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Wistman 5,431 #20 Posted April 15 The steeple and roof, with the vaults, are gone. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keithisco 4,703 #21 Posted April 15 1 minute ago, The Wistman said: The steeple and roof, with the vaults, are gone. Do we know about the 4 Rose Windows? Nothing being reported on France 24 yet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pallidin 9,937 #22 Posted April 15 Must be a horrific situation. Hope no-one is injured or killed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.United_Nations 2,795 #23 Posted April 15 1 minute ago, keithisco said: Do we know about the 4 Rose Windows? Nothing being reported on France 24 yet... Apparently 2 of them are destroyed last I heard 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
susieice 25,218 #24 Posted April 15 I feel so sorry for the people of France. This is such a beautiful building and so much a part of their history. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Wistman 5,431 #25 Posted April 15 2 minutes ago, keithisco said: Do we know about the 4 Rose Windows? Nothing being reported on France 24 yet... The towers of the western front appear to be okay, so that rose must be intact I suppose. The medieval rose at the east end, I've heard, is intact. Most of the nave is gone. Gone. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites