Stunning Images Show France’s Historic Notre Dame Cathedral Engulfed In Flames [VIDEO]
Update 7: Demonstrating just how ineffectual YouTube’s automated systems for filtering out ‘conspiratorial’ content truly are, BBG reports that one of the company’s algorithms accidentally flagged a live stream of the fire at Notre Dame as a “9/11 conspiracy”.
A YouTube feature designed to flag hoaxes mistakenly labeled a live stream of the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire as a 9/11 conspiracy.
Read the whole story from @mhbergen here: https://t.co/7v8Z2rPsRJ pic.twitter.com/uubhKCiqqV
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) April 15, 2019
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Update 6: A priest at the cathedral has told reporters that all of the priceless artwork inside the cathedral has been saved, including the crown of thorns and that “the treasure of the cathedral” is intact.
Source : père Frédéric, prêtre depuis deux ans à ND.
— Nicolas Delesalle (@KoliaDelesalle) April 15, 2019
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the building itself.
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Update 5: Though police quickly assured the public that the cause of the fire was ‘accidental’, Paris prosecutors have reportedly opened an investigation into what started the blaze.
As 400 firefighters combat the blaze, the flames have spread to one of the two towers that adorn the facade. The blaze is expected to burn for several hours, and a church official has told reporters that they expect the cathedral to be completely destroyed.
While addressing a round table on the economy in Minnesota, Trump offered more comments on the fire, Trump said the cathedral “looks like it’s burning to the ground.”
Trump: Notre Dame Cathedral is a "great treasure" of the world and the fire is a "terrible sight to behold" https://t.co/afD5YumUJg pic.twitter.com/eGnBD9XSqU
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) April 15, 2019
Macron offered his thoughts and prayers to all Catholics in a tweet.
Notre-Dame de Paris en proie aux flammes. Émotion de toute une nation. Pensée pour tous les catholiques et pour tous les Français. Comme tous nos compatriotes, je suis triste ce soir de voir brûler cette part de nous.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 15, 2019
Unesco is also closely monitoring the situation.
"Deep emotion in the face of this dramatic fire at the cathedral #NotreDame de Paris, inscribed as #WorldHeritage in 1991. @UNESCO is closely monitoring the situation and is standing by France's side to safeguard and restore this invaluable heritage." https://t.co/WsGoSym4gD
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) April 15, 2019
Though officials say the fire looks like an accident, it’s certainly curious that ten Catholic churches have been vandalized across France in the span of a week.
Once month ago:
10 Catholic churches across France attacked in one week https://t.co/oPpdvBzKYD
— Jack Posobiec ✝️ (@JackPosobiec) April 15, 2019
With the inside probably irrepairably damaged, if not completely lost, some are sharing photos of the interior of the cathedral.
To recap, the cathedral’s 15-foot lead spire has collapsed, and the roof has as well, during holy week on the Catholic calendar, which is a busy season for Paris’s most popular tourist attraction.
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Update 4: Though he was tweeting before the spire collapsed, this thread from a former state public safety official in the US offers some insights into the monumental task facing the Parisian firefighters as they rush to save the cathedral.
After my last tweet, I got a couple DMs asking firefighting related questions about the #NotreDameFire.
I -like most of you- are watching from a world away. But if you’re interested in some profession specific things I’d note/be concerned of, you can follow this thread. pic.twitter.com/golMnbYsDK
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
This is (most likely) what is causing the fire to “run the roof” as seen in the first picture. The fire is essentially burning unchecked.
If it started high in the building, Paris Fire may be able to save the walls, but roof is basically surrounded at this point.
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
After my last tweet, I got a couple DMs asking firefighting related questions about the #NotreDameFire.
I -like most of you- are watching from a world away. But if you’re interested in some profession specific things I’d note/be concerned of, you can follow this thread. pic.twitter.com/golMnbYsDK
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
In firefighting there is something called a "trenchcut" that basically opens a large roof up from peak to gutter, allowing space to stop fire spread.
Given the peak of the #cathedral roof and advanced fire conditions, this is an unlikely option in the main area of the building. pic.twitter.com/Rvo96lL1A7
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
Even if arial waterways (think hook and ladders with prepiped hoses) could reach the roofline, it is difficult to see how they would get an angle that would get water on the fire – its just too high.
So this means you have to put firefighters inside… pic.twitter.com/YhyNZRYzBH
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
Inside is a whole other problem. The primary option is large 2.5" fire hoses.
These are heavy, difficult to maneuver and against a fire like this, largely ineffective. pic.twitter.com/5tt3yDUpSo
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
This option also means placing responders on the inside as the roof is falling down around them.
And we aren't talking shingles.
This is heavy timber construction. Often 12"x12" in old churches, perhaps bigger in a #Cathedral this old. pic.twitter.com/RwO3N1Qrjw
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
Another concern is accountability.
Life safety is always the first priority, even in historic landmarks.#NotreDame was undergoing a renovation. This means that there were more people there than normal.
Is the #Cathedral staff all out?
The construction workers?
Visitors?— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
If unaccounted for, where were they and how many? What does a rescue task force look like? How many responders do you place in additional harms way for unconfirmed reports?
I don't have these answers at a distance, but the responders on scene are asking them and forming plans.
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
And lets pause to remember how fires actually burn.
You need oxygen, fuel, heat and a chemical chain reaction.
If you take any one of these away (cool material, remove fuel or oxygen, or interrupt the CCR) the fire will go out. pic.twitter.com/fgakKat1Mp
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
Removing the fuel is a no go. Churches have no shortage of things to burn.
The heat that a fire this size is putting off is tremendous. Little options for interrupting that.
The chemical chain reaction is off to the races. That horse left the stable in the first five minutes.
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
That leaves the oxygen.
Unfortunately, even if the roof had not burnt off, churches are nearly impossible to control ventilation in.
Their design is to be open and airy. Great for Sunday worship, terrible for managing fire spread. pic.twitter.com/08KbCViTTX
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
The walls of #NotreDame are stout, but if weakened by fire and roofing timbers could come down.
Are the streets in the collapse zone cleared? Of both onlookers and responder/trucks? Any other buildings threatened?
If a wall of fire comes down what the plan to fight THAT fire? pic.twitter.com/1kgepGctXW
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
My gut (and experience) tells me that best case scenario her is something similar to Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava Fire in NYC.
At least for the main part of #NotreDame that has been affected by fire. pic.twitter.com/k0m7r2Aobp
— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019
In short: Saving the cathedral might be an impossible task.
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Update 3: It’s looking increasingly likely that the cathedral will be burned to the ground after a church spokesman confirmed that its entire frame is on fire after the spire collapse. The government is desperately trying to save the artwork inside the cathedral.
PARIS (AP) – A church spokesman has told French media that all of Notre Dame Cathedral's frame is burning after spire collapsed.
— Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) April 15, 2019
PARIS (AP) – Paris emergency services now trying to salvage the artwork stored in Notre Dame Cathedral from the huge fire.
— Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) April 15, 2019
French firefighters are still putting together a plan to put out the blaze. The cathedral’s location on a small island in the middle of the Seine certainly isn’t helping.
Helicopters are being discussed according to French media. Fire hoses can't reach the high roof. https://t.co/g39wm5S34X
— Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) April 15, 2019
This is an extremely difficult intervention for firemen. Most of the areas burning edge the Seine river so they are struggling to find places to position the water hoses. And the height of the roof makes it difficult to reach.
— Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) April 15, 2019
Though the cathedral has endured a number of threats during its more than 850 year history, the damage from today’s fire is unprecedented, one source claimed.
Although I like the sentiment, the Church was desacrated during the Revolution but the damage today is unprecedented. https://t.co/IstiPvNZYy
— Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) April 15, 2019
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Update 2: The cathedral’s spire and roof have now collapsed.
La flèche de Notre-Dame vient de s'effondrer sous les exclamations horrifiées des gens #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/kfLNt7rhsZ
— Wladimir Garcin-Berson (@vladogb) April 15, 2019
BREAKING VIDEO! THE SPIRE AT THE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL HAS JUST COLLAPSED.pic.twitter.com/p1zTyPNXXD
— Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 15, 2019
BREAKING NEWS: THE ROOF FROM THE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL HAS ENTIRELY COLLAPSED.pic.twitter.com/4J5NgD2ftM
— Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 15, 2019
Spire partially collapses during fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. Devastating. pic.twitter.com/xvi82M3XKh
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) April 15, 2019
Getty Images from the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris: pic.twitter.com/IhrpO16rsG
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 15, 2019
Since officials are blaming the fire on an ‘accident’ related to the renovations…just imagine renovating one of the world’s most historic landmarks then accidentally burning it to the ground.
The neighborhood around the cathedral has been evacuated and Macron is reportedly on his way to the scene. Huge crowds have gathered around the banks of the Seine to watch in amazement as the cathedral burns.
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Update: President Trump has weighed in on the blaze, urging parisian officials to act quickly to save the cathedral.
So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019
Here’s a live feed of the fire.
At this point, firefighters attacking the blaze are treating it as an accident somehow related to the “massive” construction happening at the cathedral, which was being renovated. Police later confirmed that the fire was an accident linked to the renovation work. The cathedral had been undergoing a $12.5 million renovation financed by the French state, after the Catholic church in France launched an “urgent” campaign to raise funds for the renovation, because the cathedral was starting to crumble.
Cracks had started appearing in the stone at the cathedral, sparking fears that it could become unstable, according to the BBC.
If there’s a silver lining, many of the historic statues were removed by crane just last night.
Meanwhile, the fact that the cathedral caught fire at the beginning of holy week, a time when catholic tourists have flocked to the city, added a layer of irony to the fire.
At this point, it looks like the cathedral’s spire has been totally destroyed.
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It’s unclear how it started or what, exactly, is going on, but the historic Notre Dame cathedral caught fire on Monday, and photos and video circulating on social media suggest that conflagration has engulfed the historic monument.
Here’s the live video of Notre Dame Cathedral on fire: https://t.co/BUeIaW7Cdj
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 15, 2019
Photos have been circulating on social media:
The intensity of the flames coming out of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris… pic.twitter.com/JDAMCXFMk4
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 15, 2019
#Update: Just in – Close up Video of The iconic cathédrale Notre-Dame de #Paris church on fire. #NotreDame #France. Video Credit: @Solwii Remember this in one of the biggest Tourist hotspots in France to visit. pic.twitter.com/CORYEaagDd
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis ❁ (@sotiridi) April 15, 2019
Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is burning and my heart is breaking. Awful.pic.twitter.com/eduijPfCJN
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) April 15, 2019
The cause of the fire at the 856-year-old cathedral isn’t yet clear – though officials said it could be linked to renovation work. Parts of the roof and the cathedral’s skyline-definiing spire were alight, though the true extent of the blaze was difficult to discern. Construction on the cathedral began in 1163 and was completed in 1260. Today, it is the most visited tourist attraction in Paris, drawing 12 million visitors per year, beating out the Eiffel Tower. The cathedral is considered the finest example of French Gothic architecture.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted about the “terrible fire” and asked people to stay away: “A terrible fire is underway at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The @PompiersParis are trying to control the flames. We are mobilized on the spot in close connection with the @dioceseparis. I invite everyone to respect the security perimeter.”
This article appeared at ZeroHedge.com at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04-15/stunning-images-show-frances-historic-notre-dame-cathedral-engulfed-flames?fbclid=IwAR29QmVfqQ9RilPS_8vPogLu-X-iuYlOuoMZSiyJO_U792zqVaCjglU3Dik