Notre-Dame de Paris fire facts for kids
From Quai de Montebello with the spire aflame
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 Notre-Dame Cathedral
Location in Paris
 Notre-Dame Cathedral
Location in France
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| Date | 15 April 2019 |
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| Time | 18:20 CEST (16:20 UTC) |
| Duration | 15 hours |
| Venue | Notre-Dame Cathedral |
| Location | Paris |
| Cause | Unknown |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
| Property damage | Roof and spire destroyed; windows and vaulted ceilings damaged |
A fire broke out at Notre Dame de Paris at around 18:50 local time on 15 April 2019. Notre Dame is the Roman-Catholic cathedral of Paris. It is in the center of the city. The fire made the roof and main spire fall. The building's vaulted stone ceiling contained the burning roof as it collapsed, preventing worse damage to the interior.
Around 23:00 local time, the spokesperson of the Paris firefighters said that the structure would probably be saved. This includes the north tower; at times, it was feared that the north tower would also be affected.
Over 400 people helped fight the fire. They used 18 specially built fire hoses to put water on the flames. Two police officers were injured, and one firefighter was critically wounded, who was treated in a nearby hospital.
Contents
Cause
At the time the fire was being fought, its cause was not known, but it was being treated as an accident. The investigation most strongly suspected a case of "accidental destruction by fire", but had not ruled anything out, saying it was too early to know the cause of the fire. It is not yet known if renovation work contributed to the fire. There have been other cases where renovation-related fires smoulder for hours unseen before breaking out. The firm Le Bras Frères that was carrying out the renovations stated they had followed procedure, and would co-operate fully with the investigation. They also stated that none of their personnel were on site at the time the fire broke out.
Overview of damage
- Spire totally destroyed
- Two thirds of the roof destroyed; this includes 13000 oaks from the time the cathedral was built (12th to 14th century). This is about 21 hectares of forest.
- Some domes affected
- The statues on the roof were not present, as they were undergoing renovation
- Relics were saved
- About 90 to 95 percent of the artworks on display in the cathedral were saved
- Three large holes in the ceiling
- Several rows of pews crushed by falling debris
- Surrounding area contaminated with lead from the roof
- Structural elements relevant to the fire
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Left: timber-and-lead roof above stone ceiling; center: stone exterior walls; right: stone flying buttresses
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Stone rib-vaulted ceiling
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Timber roof framing; vaulted ceiling lies below walkways
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Lead roof sheathing
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Roof and spire
- Views of south facade of Notre-Dame de Paris, before and after the fire
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South facade of Notre-Dame de Paris, 7 August 2017
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South facade, after the fire, 15 April 2019
Images for kids
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From Square René-Viviani at 19:51
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The spire aflame
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Firefighters using a deluge gun
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Animation showing the south facade before and after the fire; scaffolding had been erected as part of renovations underway when the fire started
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The area directly under the crossing and two other cells of vaulting collapsed
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Plaque in front of the Hôtel de Ville in homage to the cathedral and those who helped save it
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The fire seen from Pont de la Tournelle
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Chartres Cathedral was rebuilt with wrought iron trusses and copper sheeting after an 1836 fire.
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White tarpaulins over metal beams were quickly rigged to protect the interior from the elements. Nettings protect the destabilised exterior.
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See also
In Spanish: Incendio de la catedral de Notre Dame de París para niños
