Rouen, July 12, 2024, The Europe Today: The spire of the historic Rouen Cathedral in northern France caught fire on Thursday, but firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze within a couple of hours.
Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol shared an image of smoke billowing from the cathedral on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the cause of the fire was “unknown at this stage.”
The fire, discovered by workers at a height of around 120 meters, broke out at midday. Nearly 100 firefighters responded, utilizing a giant ladder to reach the tower.
Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun suggested that welding work might have been the cause of the fire, telling broadcaster BFMTV.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who visited the scene at the request of President Emmanuel Macron, confirmed that the cathedral’s interior and its artworks were saved. “We have narrowly avoided another catastrophe,” she said.
The cathedral, a subject of several paintings by French impressionist Claude Monet in the late 19th century, remains an iconic landmark. Archbishop Lebrun assured that the workers present for the spire’s renovations were safe.
The incident evoked memories of the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019, which also began during renovation works.
