Breaking - Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is on fire

[malaise]

Too sad - hard to watch

It was being repaired - lots of scaffolding was around the steeple - it's spreading across the roof.

add

[Lochloosa]

1. That sucks

[malaise]

2. I think they're getting it under control

It's the back half according to Ken Leclair.

I'd hate to think this started with someone smoking a cigarette on the spire as the spire was 80% surrounded with scaffolding.

[nolabear]

4. Doesn't look like it. This is horrible. I don't even know what to say.

[malaise]

23. I was very wrong

It's much worse now - they clearly need aircraft to help

[jayfish]

19. Yeah, I don't think so.

As far as I can tell, firefighters are just now arriving on the scene.

[malaise]

41. Completely ablaze now - total disaster

Sadly the building was in terrible shape and that isn't helping.

[defacto7]

68. Looks like a total loss.

Saint-Suplice was set on fire last month on the 15th. It was deliberate. This one will probably be found to be the same in my opinion. Holy week doesn't sound like an accident and the Yellow Jackets have been threatening.

[appalachiablue]

111. On CNN LIVE: Notre Dame Burning in Paris. Saw it 3 times. How tragic.

User Login In, CNN LIVE, https://go.cnn.com/?stream=cnn%3Fsr

[malaise]

50. Completely destroyed

They're trying to protect the artwork - don't ask me how

[FBaggins]

3. Not a small fire.

?v=1555349390

[malaise]

6. Early days but I would not be surprised if

someone dropped a cigarette butt around all that scaffolding - looks way too high for terrorism - spire and roof.

[defacto7]

72. It's not hard to get up there.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. They restored Windsor Castle, they can do the same here.

The central spire looks like it's about to collapse. So far, the facade doesn't look affected.

I'm fortunate to have visited Notre Dame three times. My grandfather attended the Sorbonne for two years and that was the church he attended on Sundays.

[malaise]

9. Went once but two sibling were there last year

The entire spire is ablaze now

[greatauntoftriplets]

18. What a disaster.

[malaise]

38. Yes this is a major disaster

They will have to rebuild most of it - the entire cathedral is now on fire

[tblue37]

28. Visited twice. Beautiful cathedral. nt

[onit2day]

84. I believe it was built in 11th century

[Bettie]

8. Hope they get it under control and that

the damage is minimal.

Whatever I think of the Catholic Church (or organized religion) the building is a beautiful piece of history.

[malaise]

12. Ditto - ex catholic atheist here

but I love these old historical buildings

[greatauntoftriplets]

22. Same here.

I'm a recovering Catholic.

[malaise]

25. I started recovering in my early teens

Mom was an obsessive Catholic who was educated at a Catholic boarding school in Belgium.

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. I was early 20s, but my parents weren't particularly religious.

[malaise]

36. My father was Scots Kirk and he laughed

at Catholicism with regularity. I refused to kiss the bishop's ring and would not call him my lord when he called. Mom used to translate stuff for them. Then we caught the priest at the drive in with the wife of a well known man in our neighborhood on the same Sunday he preached about adultery. Did we ever laugh. They shipped him out with immediacy but I was finished with their crap. I never believed a thing they said and found making up shit for confession tedious.

[pandr32]

27. Ditto here

This building is a treasure.

[drray23]

10. Hopefully its mostly the scaffolding.

It would be a tragedy if it burned the roof.

[malaise]

13. No the entire spire is ablaze and the fire on the roof near the spire seems to

be spreading

[MineralMan]

15. Watching the coverage, I think the roof is going to be

completely destroyed.

[malaise]

16. Yep

They need aircraft to assist them here

[MineralMan]

17. Yes, ground equipment can't fight that fire.

Which means that it's going to burn until it goes out on its own.

I'm afraid the destruction is going to be tremendous. What a shame!

[malaise]

20. The thing is they were undertaking fundamental repairs because

the building was collapsing

[uponit7771]

29. So there was no fire plan for this ?! No sprinklers !? Just let it burn down?! thx in advance

[MineralMan]

45. I'm sure there were no sprinklers. Imagine the difficulty

of installing them in a building that old. But, I don't know. Many old buildings don't have them, and retrofitting them can be impossible, really. Its been there forever with no fires. There's a good chance the fire started do to restoration work that was underway.

It will be a great loss, and restoration will take a long time.

[forgotmylogin]

110. I guess I never imagined so much of it was made of wood.

I was watching in the doctor's office when they broke in, and they said there were some parts burning that were wood made to look like stone and they didn't know that until just now.

[MineralMan]

122. I think there is a wooden framework inside, to support

wood panels and other interior details. That would burn. The question will be whether the stone structure of the building was damaged by the heat. That I do not know. There will have to be a detailed inspection, once the rubble is removed and the stone walls exposed.

One thing's certain: Restoration will take decades, at a minimum, and the cost will be enormous.

[cwydro]

87. I hope they can restore it.

Still an awful shame. It’s a beautiful building.

Right before tourist season too. 😢

[MineralMan]

92. A neighbor of mine is coming back today from a trip

to Paris. She'll be devastated, since I'm sure she visited Notre Dame while she was there.

[malaise]

42. The entire building is now ablaze

Really sad

[MineralMan]

47. The damage will be extensive, and even the stone structure

could be damaged. It's a real pity.

[sarge43]

91. Those glorious windows are most likely gone.

The tracing holding the glass in place is lead

What a tragedy.

Paris

[malaise]

113. Melted

[sarge43]

116. Yes. It's heartbreaking. n/t

[MineralMan]

99. Any restoration will take decades, at least.

[defacto7]

74. The roof is usually lead in these old cathedrals. Lead melts very easily

and drops to the lower levels as hot rain. That will spread the fire to anything it touches.

[moondust]

11. Spire now on fire.

Almost to the top.

Huge cloud of smoke.

"Roof entirely collapsed." - Reporter (Apparently not entirely collapsed yet.) Now repeats entire roof is now collapsed.

Inside framework made out of wood.

(Watching live on France24.)

[spanone]

14. Broke ground in 1163.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris

[malaise]

21. I hope those people more

That spire is going to come down

[brooklynite]

24. BREAKING: Notre-Dame spire has collapsed.

Per France24

[malaise]

26. Did you see what I just wrote above your post

I just knew that spire was going to fall but it's still up on the coverage on M$NBComcast

[brooklynite]

35. A lot of networks are working in phone videos from earlier in the day...

...don't seem to be a lot of live news cameras.

[malaise]

30. Down now n/t

[FakeNoose]

32. The building walls are mostly stone but there are priceless artworks and windows

... that could be destroyed. This is a tragedy, even though the roof and spire can be restored. I hope there are no casualties, but I haven't heard yet if people were inside when the fire started.

[kentuck]

33. That is very sad...

...and symbolic is some way.

[greatauntoftriplets]

34. The spire collapsed.

[Baclava]

44. I doubt any of it can be saved, the whole roof is caving in

[greatauntoftriplets]

61. It may be structurally unsound after this.

Unbelievable.

[brooklynite]

37. Donald Trump: "Flying Water Tankers"

Link to tweet

[nolabear]

39. He subtracts from everything he interacts with.

I could live the rest of my life without his input.

[aka-chmeee]

51. This individual...

He makes Quasimodo look educated and a brilliant speaker. We already knew Quasimodo to be more honorable and human.

[tymorial]

55. Why does he have to interject with stupidity

God I loathe the man

[BigDemVoter]

77. Let's have a contest!

I bet I loathe him more. . .

[CaptYossarian]

79. Will it be like 9/11 and he'll brag about owning the tallest bldg in Paris?

[Maru Kitteh]

71. He will be jealous of the coverage. Will he say something even more stupid than that to

try and draw the spotlight to him, just as he did in 911?

[defacto7]

80. Shut the fuck up Trump!

[Captain Stern]

103. Damn, he sucks....at almost everything.

The only thing he doesn't suck at is making me appreciate how limited my vocabulary is.

He's made me realize that I just don't know enough words to adequately describe how bad he is at his job.

The first sentence in his tweet really isn't all that bad. It's not all that Presidential, but it at least shows that he's aware of what is currently happening, and that he understands that it isn't a good thing. He's set the bar so low, that I'm actually pleasantly surprised that he did that much.

But then, Fireman Donald has to step in and tell the actual firefighters what they should do....and that they must act quickly!

What a dope he is.

[Historic NY]

40. I see no aerial trucks or water cannons....

They have no way to attack it. The 13th century Stain Glass is mostly original especially the Rose window.

[malaise]

43. Water boats it's by the river but I heard sirens

This is a complete disaster

[defacto7]

82. They are all held together by lead. They have to be gone by now.

[Historic NY]

126. I was there in Oct for the WWI stuff....

I was frankly amazed that there wasn't any fire suppression systems in the Nave, granted this probably started with workman its a wonder they didn't have a temporary sprinkler system on the roof. No insurance in the world can cover this loss, to their nation, the catholic church, and the people of the world. I mourn the loss especially as Holy Week approaches.

[Takket]

46. Absolutely heartbreaking... a masterpiece of architecture.

[Amishman]

53. I'm in tears watching the news

It breaks my heart to see such beauty and history destroyed

[Ilsa]

48. Spire just fell. nt

[MoonRiver]

49. So sad. Happy I was able to see it years ago.

[hunter]

52. I hope everything damaged or destroyed is well documented.

Maybe it's too soon to say it, but this tragedy makes efforts by Bill Gates and others to take multi-spectral images and laser scans of historically significant items and architecture seem VERY worthwhile.

[Hekate]

69. I'm sure every inch is, but it took centuries to build. Centuries of craftsmanship...

...now hardly practiced,

[defacto7]

83. It cannot be replaced. We don't even have the ability to do it anymore.

[defacto7]

54. It seems like the world and history itself is burning.

I have played the organ in that place. All gone. I'm shaking thinking about it.

[fierywoman]

78. I heard they had just restored the organ -- so sorry for your loss.

[defacto7]

96. Yes, I think it was finished in '92. I was present at the dedication.

A picture of what was....

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dytHgxmqC3A/SetRYOba1oI/AAAAAAAAB4w/zm1x3XPJhFM/s1600-h/notre+dame+p11.jpg

[fierywoman]

125. Beautiful picture -- so-o-o sad when such a magnificent instrument is lost.

[defacto7]

129. An update... I have an email from the organist at N.D.

Monsieur Latry said..
"...miraculously the organ survived. It is a bit dusty but will enjoy us again when the Cathedral is rebuilt."

Dusty....

[fierywoman]

130. I saw that wonderful news in the Guardian this morning and immediately thought of you...

..."dusty" indeed!

I'm a violist, played in the Orch of Teatro la Fenice for 7 years in the 80s. One night, when the orch was divided between two theaters (Fenice and Malibran), we were performing at Fenice when the water was rising. the Orchestra Inspector told us to take our instruments home, since the instrument lockers were on the ground floor. But the musicians whose instruments were at Malibran didn't get to take their instruments home and the instruments were soaked by the canal (=sewer) water. Of course La Fenice paid to restore the instruments. When I asked my section mate, after she'd gotten her instrument back from the liutier, how it was ...? She laughed and said, "It's never sounded better. I know it's crazy but I would *almost* recommend soaking an instrument in the canal to make it sound better."

So this is what I wish for the Notre Dame organ: that it will sound better than ever!

[defacto7]

131. I wonder if that method would work for singers?

[fierywoman]

133. Hahaha -- especially the Italian female types who dressed in Armani but "marked" their way through

all the rehearsals, even through the dress rehearsal!

[cos dem]

127. That's awesome!

I took my parents to Europe a few years ago specifically to hear some great organ music. We managed to hit Notre Dame, St Eustache, and St Sulpice in Paris. They played Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue at Notre Dame during their Saturday night recital. It is so incredible to hear those fantastic instruments, built for the spaces they're in. And of course all of the history associated with them too. It was a fantastic trip, and now so much more cherished. I'm sure hoping the organ and all of the other valuable artwork is salvageable.

[defacto7]

128. An update... I have an email from the organist at Notre Dame

Monsieur Latry said..
"...miraculously the organ survived. It is a bit dusty but will enjoy us again when the Cathedral is rebuilt."

Dusty....

[cos dem]

132. Thanks for the update.

There hasn't been much info on the organ status in the MSM, and what has has been a bit contradictory and confusing.

[Monsieur_Grumpe]

56. My wife and I were there last month. What a terrible loss.

[smirkymonkey]

57. Oh god, how tragic!

I am not religious, but I am a worshipper of architectural masterpieces and this is one of them. I hope they can get it under control.

[3catwoman3]

58. This is heartbreaking.

I was there in 1974, when I was 23, and my late brother snapped a photo of me posing beside one of the gargoyles way up high.

[sinkingfeeling]

59. Oh, no!

[brooklynite]

60. Video fo the spire collapsing

Link to tweet

[OnDoutside]

62. Gallows humour, but "#JeSuisQuasimodo" is doing the rounds ....

[EveHammond13]

63. historic skyline of Paris has changed today

[saidsimplesimon]

64. What started the fire?

I stayed across the Seine from Notre Dame on my last visit to Paris. It was the hub for tourists staying in in or near the fourth arrondissement of Paris, and the University.

[suffragette]

65. Horrible news. I've been there 3 times. So amazing to actually visit it, but also to see as you are

wandering in Paris. It ‘s one of those touchstones that tells you where you are and is beautiful at all angles.

I hope the windows and the artwork inside can be saved.

[rickford66]

66. I've been there twice.

What a loss. These cathedrals are under continuous repair. They're not as robust as they appear.

[Heartstrings]

67. Fortunate enough to have experienced this gem...

I believe the Paris marathon was this past weekend.

So sad....

[sacto95834]

70. Just Heartbroken

I am so blessed to have actually walked in the cathedral and round the grounds when I was in Paris. So much history and tranquility. While I was walking around, I just thought about all the historic figures that may have stood where I was and was left in awe. I do hope the people of France and Paris are able to bring this world landmark back to it's original beauty.

[Xolodno]

73. We were there last year....

...my wife had to turn off the TV, it was making her cry watching it. She started going through the photo book with our pictures of the place.

[UTUSN]

75. Heartbreaking

[BigDemVoter]

76. It sounds like it's going to burn to the ground with high wind, etc.

A REAL fucking gem from that moron, Lester Holt. . .

"Anyone who knows just a . . . even a brief history of this place I think will have the confidence that it will, it will rise again. . . or it will be restored to its glory again."

It's not so goddamned easy to rebuild a cathedral from the 12th century. . . And I don't think the cathedral will resurrect itself.

Just a moron running his cake hole and blathering on. I don't know why I am EVER surprised when I hear how fucking stupid journalists are about politics. . . .

[DFW]

81. This is a tragedy beyond words

That was an architectural an artistic cultural world treasure trove.

For a while in the 1970s, we maintained an apartment across the Seine from ND, and I used to get to just stare at its majesty every night. Nine centuries of history and beauty up in flames in one day.

[yaesu]

85. Beautiful Gothic church & it sounds like some rare artifacts were on display or stored where the

fire is. Some paintings were removed earlier for cleaning so at least they are saved.

[Siwsan]

86. I have no words - only emotions

[suffragette]

88. Now it has spread to one of the towers.

https://news.yahoo.com/latest-macron-delays-tv-speech-175214631.html

The mammoth fire that destroyed the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral has spread to one of the church's landmark rectangular towers.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene of Monday's fire in Paris watched the flames blazing behind an oblong stained-glass window in the tower.

Paris police say fighters are inside the cathedral working to put the flames out while others work from the exterior. Red smoke is pouring out of the cathedral.

A Notre Dame spokesman said earlier that the church's entire wooden interior was in flames.

[LovingA2andMI]

89. There is So Much to Say About This....

But DU is not the most Religious Place. So Will End w/ This: This is Holy Week and Notre Dame is Burning. Says plenty about the state of our World and Christians Far and Wide, know what this means.

[sarge43]

98. One does not have to be a Christian or even religious to appreciate what this means.

Notre Dame is one of the world's cultural treasures. Centuries of beauty and memories are contained within it.

All of us are losing something precious and irreplaceable, most of all the good people of Paris.

[MurrayDelph]

109. I am neither Christian nor religious

but was looking forward to seeing it this fall.



(And was planning on trying hard not to yell "Sanctuary!&quot

[cynatnite]

90. I had to turn of the news, it hurt too much to watch...

I got to visit Notre Dame several years ago when I lived overseas. It's truly a beautiful and unique place.

This is a tragedy.

[suffragette]

93. Response to Trump's tweet

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/apr/15/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-paris-france-landmark-live-news

The French civil defence and crisis management agency have dismissed President Trump’s suggestion that flying water tankers could put the fire out.

“The drop of water by air on this type of building could result in the collapse of the entire structure along with the firefighers who are currently doing their best to save Notre Dame,” it tweeted.

“Helicopter or airplane, the weight of the water and the intensity of the drop at low altitude could weaken the structure of Notre-Dame and result in collateral damage to the buildings in the vicinity.”

[Stinky The Clown]

120. Our president is a despicable moron

[suffragette]

124. Yes, he is. No matter the situation, he will always make it worse.

[Dem2theMax]

94. Utterly heartbreaking.

Have been there twice. I love history. This is a loss for the entire world.

[liberalnarb]

95. Horrific.

My heart goes out to the people of France.

[Larissa]

97. Gift from the French

After seeing the heartbreaking pictures of the Cathedral in flames, my daughter asked if it was the French who gave us the Statue of Liberty. Indeed, I answered, but it is made out of copper.

[Kind of Blue]

100. I can't believe this is happening.

Thanks for posting.

[Larissa]

101. Catholic Church Vandalism in France

Since the beginning of this year Catholic churches in France have been targeted by vandals. Officials haven't been able to figure out the who or why. I am not suggesting that what happened to Notre Dame today is connected to this situation, but it cannot help but be a consideration when the smoke has cleared.


newsweek.com: Catholic Churches are Being Desecrated across France -- and Officials Don't Know Why
https://www.newsweek.com/spate-attacks-catholic-churches-france-sees-altars-desecrated-christ-statue-1370800

[moondust]

114. Hmmm...

France24 reports that the public had to leave ND at 6:45-6:50 p.m. local time (apparently due to the renovation work). ABC News reports the fire started at 6:50 p.m.

So maybe five minutes between the public leaving and the fire starting (or perhaps first being noticed)?

[malaise]

119. Stop it

Everything points to this starting as a result of the restoration work.
There's more evidence of attacks on African American churches in the US

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

102. How sad... any word on how it started?

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

107. The restoration work probably started the fire. A spark from nearly anything will do it. n/t

[Jim_Pridx]

104. I've been there a few times......

....and it's truly a sad day for the French and everyone in the world. Still, if you go to some of the Faux News stories covering the fire, many on the right are already making accusations that the fire was intentionally set by liberals or Muslims, not to mention other cheap shots.......truly pathetic!

[DallasNE]

105. What Kind Of Insurance Is Carried?

It was facing massively expensive repairs and the first phase of that work was being performed right now. I would hope that it is not an insurance fire.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/notre-dame-paris-monuments-catholicism/2018/03/20/id/849792/

[sweetroxie]

106. This breaks my heart.

[world wide wally]

108. What a terrible loss to the world

[exboyfil]

112. Reminds me how we almost

Lost our Old Capitol building in Iowa. They were working on the dome when the fire started. They were using open flame torches. I wonder how this started.

[a la izquierda]

115. I was there 2 years ago for my 40th birthday.

I'm so happy I captured the sound of the bells.
I'm a historian and the medieval period is not my speciality, but it is my passion. I am so horrified.

[Kurt V.]

117. I'm watching rick steves' europe right now. he's in paris. of course he went to notre dame. eerie

[brooklynite]

118. UPDATE: French Interior Minister - Notre Dame may be inpossible to save

per France24

[Soph0571]

121. Was watching on the news tonight as the spire collapsed

It is horrid. Such a magnificent and majestic building. Wonderful to visit. They have reported it is now in the walls. Will be dust by tomorrow. I suppose the question at this point is how much of the priceless artefacts and art work they manage to save? Looking at how it is burning. Not much I would hazard.

[gopiscrap]

123. My wife and I attended Mass here as a part

of our 35th anniversary