A fire erupted on the spire of the iconic Rouen Cathedral in Normandy, France, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, around noon local time. The 151-meter-high spire, which dates back to the 19th century and is currently undergoing renovation, was engulfed in flames, with witnesses reporting a large column of black smoke rising into the sky.The mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, confirmed the incident on social media, stating, “A fire is starting in the spire of Rouen Cathedral. The origin is unknown at this time. All public resources have been mobilized”. The cathedral has been evacuated, and a security perimeter has been established around the building.Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, with 63 firefighters and 33 fire trucks deployed to combat the blaze. The fire appears to have originated from the construction platform where renovation work was being carried out. As of 12:30 local time, eyewitnesses reported that the intensity of the smoke had decreased.The Rouen Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture built between the 13th and 15th centuries, is renowned for its artistic significance, having been famously painted by Claude Monet in the late 19th century. The current spire, made of iron, replaced the original wooden structure that was destroyed by lightning.This incident has drawn immediate comparisons to the devastating fire that engulfed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in April 2019, which also occurred during restoration work. As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, authorities are urging the public to avoid the area.The extent of the damage to the Rouen Cathedral is yet to be determined. The incident has raised concerns about the preservation of historical landmarks and the risks associated with renovation works on such structures.
Key points
- A fire broke out on the 151-meter-high spire of Rouen Cathedral during renovation work.
- 63 firefighters with 33 fire trucks were deployed to combat the blaze.
- The incident draws comparisons to the 2019 Notre-Dame fire in Paris.
- The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and investigations are ongoing.
