Fire in Notre Dame Cathedral: possible cause of fire became known

Firefighters could arrive half an hour earlier, immediately after the alarm went off in Notre Dame de Paris. However, during the 23 minutes the staff of the cathedral tried unsuccessfully to independently find a source of fire.

Photo: video frame YouTube / CBC News

23 minutes were crucial

Firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire in the Cathedral of Notre Dame almost half an hour late, because the staff of Notre Dame, responsible for security measures, did not give a signal for help immediately after the fire alarm was triggered, reported DW french officials.

According to them, the alarm system initially worked on 15 on April at 18.20, but the staff of the cathedral decided not to call firefighters, evacuate visitors and independently figure out what had happened. During the critical minutes 23, they unsuccessfully searched for the source of fire and found it in the attic only in 19.43, when the fire alarm system worked again, and the fire already engulfed the upper part of the building.

"Electrical problem"

Paris Prosecutor Remi Ajts told reporters in Paris that an accident was considered the priority version of the fire, but warned that the investigation would be long and complicated.

On the subject: Fire in Notre Dame: what is unique about Notre Dame de Paris

According to the newspaper Le Parisien, forensic experts believe that the cause of the fire at Notre Dame was an “electrical problem.” At the same time, experts do not specify what kind of problem they are talking about. They are considering various versions - from a short circuit to a hidden wiring fault.

As part of the investigation, the police interrogated about 30 people - security guards, employees of the company carrying out the reconstruction, builders, writes “European truth«.

Security officers told police that the fire was located at the base of the spire of Notre Dame on the Seine side.

As part of these restoration work on the spiers of Notre Dame, we set up forests weighing more than 500 tons. Construction work was serviced by three elevators. The first elevator lifted the workers to the height of 24 m from the ground, the second elevated to the height of 54 m on the roof, the third elevator allowed to reach the spire, which the workers had to clean.

Two of these elevators have already worked since last Thursday, when they removed the statues located on the steeple. According to the guards, when the fire alarm went off and they arrived at the elevator, the fire was already strong and they could do nothing more.

According to one version of forensic experts, the cause of the fire could have been an electrical problem. “There may have been a short circuit,” one of the publication’s interlocutors said.

On the subject: A fire in Notre Dame de Paris: will the shrine be restored and at whose expense

Fire in the Cathedral of Notre Dame

As a result of the fire, Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the symbols of Paris, was severely damaged. The roof collapsed by two-thirds, the clock and spire were destroyed, around which there were sculptural groups of 12 apostles and four winged tetramorphs - symbols of the evangelists.

Фото: Depositphotos

By a happy coincidence, they were sent for restoration shortly before the fire and not injured. Saved Also, the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ is one of the main Christian relics.

Photo: notredamedeparis.fr

The main supporting structure, the towers of the main facade, as well as the bell were saved from collapse.

About 13 million people visited Notre Dame annually. Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 and continued intermittently until 1345. The fame of the architectural structure was promoted by Victor Hugo’s novel “Notre-Dame de Paris,” published in 1831. Its sales around the world increased significantly after the fire in the world famous temple.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• The fire that engulfed the Paris Cathedral of Notre Dame on 15 on April extinguished. The flame destroyed the roof, the clock and the spire, as well as the wooden elements of the structure. Firemen fought with fire for more than nine hours.

• Soon after the fire, many entrepreneurs and patrons of art expressed a desire to finance the restoration of the cathedral. Among them was the French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, the head and the executive director of the Kering group of companies: he promised to transfer 100 million euros for these purposes. By 200 million euros, the family of the founders of the cosmetics company L'Oreal Bettancourt and the family of Arno, owning a manufacturer of luxury goods LVMH, are ready to contribute.
• In June, 2017, at the police officers on duty near the cathedral, attacked by a lone terroristarmed with a hammer and knives. One policeman was injured, the attacker himself was injured by return fire. Because of the attacks in the cathedral, about 900 tourists were blocked.

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A fire in Notre Dame de Paris: will the shrine be restored and at whose expense

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