Massive Fire Destroys Part Of Notre Dame Cathedral

800 years of history started burning while people watched in horror. A large fire broke out Monday evening on top of the famed Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. And it wasn’t easy to extinguish. With flames shooting out from the top, firefighters were said to have issues accessing the blaze. The spokesman for Notre Dame, Andre Finot says the entire wooden interior was burning and that the frame was completely destroyed. About an hour after the fire began the spire and roof collapsed.

Things could have been worse though. The New York Times writes:

By 11 p.m., Gen. Jean-Claude Gallet, the Paris fire chief, said that the structure, including the two magnificent towers soaring above the skyline, had been “saved and preserved as a whole,” but that two-thirds of the roof was destroyed.

French people are in shock tonight and that includes French President Emmanuel Macron. Here’s a translation of a message he tweeted:

“Notre-Dame de Paris in flames. Emotion of a whole nation. Thought for all Catholics and for all French. Like all our compatriots, I am sad tonight to see this part of us burn.”

Though the cause is still unknown, the AP reports, “The peak of the church is undergoing a 6 million-euro ($6.8 million) renovation project. French media quoted the Paris fire brigade saying the fire is “potentially linked” to the renovation work.” 

Bloomberg adds:

The Paris prosecutors’ office says investigators are treating the blaze that destroyed part of Notre Dame as an accident for now.

The prosecutors’ office said late Monday they have ruled out arson in Monday’s fire, including possible terror-related motives for starting the blaze.

Prosecutors say Paris police will conduct an investigation into “involuntary destruction caused by fire.”

People were inside of the cathedral when the fire broke out but quickly evacuated. There are no reports of injuries.