Entire Roof, Famous Spire Collapse in Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Entire Roof, Famous Spire Collapse in Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

A fire has broken out at the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

People have posted videos and pictures on Twitter of the horrific fire, which people can see from miles away. It seems like the fire continues to grow with every new posted picture.

*This is a breaking story. I will update as more information comes in…

*UPDAT 5:12PM ET

Both towers are safe at the cathedral, according to French Interior Secretary Laurent Nunez: “The fire is now weaker. We are now in a time of cooling but both towers of the cathedral are safe. We’re still working to save the cathedral’s work of arts.”

Parisians have come together and sang “Ave Maria” in the streets.

Parisians pay hommage to the #NotreDame Cathedral pic.twitter.com/YHOWi926pv

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 15, 2019

The fire seriously injured one firefighter. I haven’t seen reports of deaths or other injuries.

Thankfully, important artifacts like the Crown of Thorns believed worn by Jesus and a piece of the cross survived the fire.

This Paris Match journo says the artwork has been saved. The treasure of the cathedral is intact. The relics of the Crown of Thorns – housed in Notre Dame and display once a month – as well as other religous relics have been saved. #NotreDame https://t.co/vf2siqZJze

— James Creedon (@JamesCreedonF24) April 15, 2019

Previous Reporting

Not only is it a Catholic church, but it has become regarded “as a feat of architecture” due to the stained glass and towers. Built in the 13th century, it has also become one of Paris’s top tourist attractions.

We do not know the cause, but it looks like it could have something to do with renovation. The Catholic Church in France asked for funds last year “to save the cathedral, which was starting to crumble.”

While they have tried to save the invaluable history inside the church, it’s unlikely “nothing will remain from the frame,” according to Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot:

A spokesman for the cathedral said the whole structure was “burning”.

“There will be nothing left,” he said. “It remains to be seen whether the vault, which protects the cathedral, will be affected or not.”

The entire roof has collapsed.

#NotreDame: 'The roof has entirely collapsed, there are flames coming out the back of the cathedral as if it was a torch'@charli, Journalist at France 24, at the scene of the fire. pic.twitter.com/2B0IrMiDcL

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 15, 2019

#NotreDameFire: 'Not only the spire has been damaged to the point of collaping, but all the medieval woodwork, the carpentry of the structure supporting the roof is still burning'

Jean-Louis Cohen, architectural historian. pic.twitter.com/7Yo9hZL2QZ

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 15, 2019

Effondrement. #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/C9SQYcZwHk

— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) April 15, 2019

Entire spire is on fire at #NotreDame ???? pic.twitter.com/eFv4npBi8q

— Jon Nicosia ???????? (@NewsPolitics) April 15, 2019

#UPDATE Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris pic.twitter.com/DA4zhRsdZo

— AFP news agency (@AFP) April 15, 2019

This is godawful. Looks like the fire started around a spire, it’s spreading fast. pic.twitter.com/PGqGNYTQ5A

— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) April 15, 2019

#notredame view from Monmartre pic.twitter.com/giYMzESLB9

— Leigh (@MamaEmerson) April 15, 2019

#NotreDame on fire ???? pic.twitter.com/2o6fdFmLbC

— Liam Taylor (@LiamMTaylor) April 15, 2019

I found a Newsweek article from March 21 about how people have desecrated Catholic churches in France. I really hope this is not the case at Notre Dame, but thought I should point this out:

Last Sunday, the historic Church of St. Sulpice in Paris was set on fire just after midday mass on Sunday, Le Parisien reported, although no one was injured. Police are still investigating the attack, which firefighters have confidently attributed to arson.

Built in the 17th century, St. Sulpice houses three works by the Romantic painter Eugene de la Croix, and was used in the movie adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown.

Last month, at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Houilles, in north-central France, a statue of the Virgin Mary was found smashed, and the altar cross had been thrown on the ground, according to La Croix International, a Catholic publication.

Also in February, at Saint-Alain Cathedral in Lavaur, in south-central France, an altar cloth was burned and crosses and statues of saints were smashed. The attack prompted Lavaur Mayor Bernard Canyon to say in a statement: “God will forgive. Not me.”

And in the southern city of Nimes, near the Spanish border, vandals looted the altar of the church of Notre-Dame des Enfants (Our Lady of the Children) and smeared a cross with human excrement.

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