A fire has broken out in the spire of Rouen Cathedral in Normandy, northern France. The broadcaster Bfmtv reported this, sharing images of a long column of smoke coming from the cathedral’s spire. The causes of the fire are not yet known, but renovation work was being carried out on the cathedral’s spire, as Bfmtv explained.
The mayor of the city, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, wrote on ‘X’ that “all public resources are mobilized” and that the causes of the fire “currently in progress in the spire of Rouen Cathedral” are “unknown at the moment.”
For safety reasons, the cathedral has been evacuated and emergency services are on site, as confirmed by the Normandy prefecture on ‘X’. A safety perimeter has been established around the cathedral. Richard Duplat, the chief architect of historical monuments, emphasized the importance of these measures, particularly due to the ‘very important scaffolding structures’ at the site.
According to French media, 63 firefighters and 33 fire trucks responded to the site.
The construction of Rouen Cathedral started in the 11th century during the Middle Ages and was completed in the 16th century during the Renaissance. Rouen Cathedral is one of the city’s most significant historical structures. Rouen Cathedral has been undergoing restoration efforts since 2016.
This is not the first significant church fire in France. The world was shocked by the devastating incident that occurred on April 15, 2019, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The cause of the fire was never definitively determined; however, investigators believe it was most likely an accident, potentially associated with electrical issues or the ongoing renovations at the time.
The fire, which caused extensive damage, destroyed the cathedral’s spire and a significant portion of its roof. While the stained glass windows remarkably survived, the loss of numerous irreplaceable religious artifacts and artworks is a significant cultural loss.
