Rouen: The fire that affected the spire of the burning cathedral is contained
This Thursday, July 11, morning, the spire of Rouen Cathedral (Seine-Maritime) caught fire. The fire is contained. Impressive images are circulating on social networks.
The spire of Rouen Cathedral (Seine-Maritime) caught fire on the morning of Thursday, July 11. The fire broke out at the spire of the building, which has been under renovation since 2016. Firefighters received an alert at 12 p.m., sent by construction workers. “33 machines and 63 firefighters” were immediately mobilized, according to the newspaper Sud Ouest. The cause of the incident is not yet known. Around 1:30 p.m., firefighters declared that it was being extinguished. An hour later, it was contained.
The PS mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Meyer-Rossignol, mentioned on X (ex-Twitter) that “all public resources are being mobilized” to control the fire. A few minutes later, the Reconnaissance and Intervention Group in Perilous Environments (GRIMP 76) of the Rouen fire brigade arrived on the scene.
The spire is hidden by tarpaulins but thick black smoke can be seen. Around 12:10, a large security perimeter was set up and sirens are sounding throughout the city. “A lot of people are gathered around the cathedral, everyone is filming,” reacted on X, Julien Bouteiller, journalist at 76actu.
The Seine-Maritime prefecture called on the population to “avoid the area” and “not to obstruct the emergency lines”. On social networks, however, it specified that the fire took place at the top of the spire “which is not made of wood but of metal”. State services do not currently know whether the wooden frame was affected.
On site and on social media, locals are reacting in large numbers. GrĂ©goire, an Internet user, declared on X: “The spire of Rouen Cathedral, in flames. Horrible…”. Around 1:20 p.m., the hashtag #rouen was trending on the social network X. The Archbishop of Rouen, Dominique Le Brun, spoke on BFM Normandie of “an incredible emotion” and specified that works of art “were protected from the water”.
On the networks, many people reacted. Testimony of Allan, 21 years old, student
I live in the south of France. Even though I am not from Rouen, when I see photos like this, I can’t help but think of Notre-Dame de Paris in 2019. We cannot remain indifferent. It is a monument of French history that risks being destroyed, it touches me. Such images are always difficult to see, as a Christian already, but also as any human because we have a thought for the firefighters who will risk their lives fighting the flames.
