A Claude Monet-painted French cathedral's spire covering caught fire on Thursday, July 11, raising concerns about a repetition of the 2019 fire that destroyed Paris's Notre Dame.
According to Rouen's Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, the cause of the fire was unknown.
BFM channel's television photos showed watchers in the streets below staring up in terror as a heavy column of smoke rose from the spire.
Fire brigade chief Stephane Gouezec said 70 firefighters and 40 fire engines participated.
"We are in the process of making sure the fire is out," Gouezec said." We will still need some time, perhaps an hour or so, to make sure there are no hot spots left in the area."
He claimed that the fire started 120 meters above the ground in that part of the spire. The local prefect, a state official, said that a security barrier has been put up, and the cathedral has been evacuated.
It says the fire happened in a part of the cathedral where construction is underway.
Sitting on the terrace of a neighboring cafe, witness Patrick Waeselynck told BFM television that he heard people shouting "fire."
He shared that he turned around and saw the cathedral spire, the tarp protecting the restoration work, was burning with big flames and black smoke.
Furthermore, he added that they had first thought about what had happened in Paris, as it shocked everyone. However, he noted that the police arrived and set up a security perimeter, and the firefighters arrived next.
The Rouen cathedral spire had been surrounded by scaffolding and a white cover for several weeks. The prefecture reported that there were no reports of casualties and that the extent of the damage was unclear for now.
