Fire in Rouen Cathedral Spire Contained by Firefighters

Firefighters in the city of Normandy‘s Rouen have successfully managed to extinguish a fire that erupted in the renowned gothic Rouen Cathedral spire, calming fears of a potential architectural disaster in France’s cultural heritage. Initial distressing scenes captured a dark smoke plume rising from the cathedral’s spire, provoking concern among onlookers. However, subsequent images revealed the smoke dissipating, signaling that the blaze was contained.

Stéphane Gouezec from the Seine-Maritime firefighters reported that the fire’s source had been identified and efforts were underway to eliminate any remaining hotspots within the structure. The risk of further spreading was deemed low as the affected area primarily comprised metal structures. Construction workers were the first to notice the fire and promptly alerted the authorities.

The cathedral, famously depicted in paintings by the French impressionist Claude Monet, was evacuated as a safety measure, with emergency services swiftly responding to the scene. Rouen’s mayor, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, took to social media to inform the public about the developing situation and assured that all necessary resources were being mobilized.

Today’s Rouen Cathedral stands as a masterpiece of architectural history, tracing its origins to a fourth-century basilica and an 11th-century Romanesque complex. Notable for Monet‘s iconic portrayals of the cathedral during different times of the day, the structure holds immense cultural significance. The cathedral’s spire, previously damaged by lightning in 1822, was redesigned with controversy by architect Jean-Antoine Alavoine, incorporating a cast iron construction.

Throughout its existence, the cathedral has endured various restoration and reconstruction efforts, surviving damage during the Second World War and weather-related incidents in modern times. The recent fire, while alarming, did not result in any casualties, and the extent of the damage is yet to be fully assessed by officials.