Witnesses of the fire remarked that the scene evoked memories of the devastating 2019 blaze at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
A fire that broke out in the tower of a Gothic cathedral in Rouen, France, has been successfully extinguished, local firefighters announced on Thursday. This report is based on information from the Associated Press (AP) and Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA).
The fire erupted around noon on Thursday in the tower of the cathedral, which is currently undergoing renovations. Approximately 70 firefighters and 40 fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze, according to Stéphane Gouezec, the head of the local fire department, as reported by Reuters.
Roughly an hour and a half after the fire began, firefighters confirmed they had the situation under control. Gouezec stated that the source of the fire had been located within the tower, and the firefighters were ensuring that no smoldering areas remained. He also mentioned that the risk of the fire spreading was minimal, as the blaze was confined to a largely metal section of the tower.
Fire Noticed by Construction Workers
According to Gouezec, the fire was first spotted by construction workers involved in the renovation project. He noted that the fire originated in a part of the tower situated 120 meters above ground level.
Local authorities and officials reported that the cathedral was evacuated, and a safety cordon was established around the building following the outbreak of the fire.
French media broadcast footage of thick smoke billowing from the tower of the Gothic cathedral. Witnesses told French television channel BFM that the scene reminded them of the catastrophic fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019, which also occurred during renovation work.
The Rouen Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, with its construction beginning in the 12th century. It is also famous for being depicted in a series of paintings by the French impressionist Claude Monet in the 19th century.
