Author: Tariq Tahir / Source: The Sun
HERO firefighters saved Notre Dame from total destruction in a vital 30 minute battle with the blaze.
They somehow prevented the iconic landmark from collapsing after staff at the cathedral took 23 MINUTES to even find the fire, it has emerged.
Notre Dame fire – Drone footage reveals extent of damage to the world-famous cathedral after devastating blaze
Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said that workers were unable to find the rampaging fire after an alarm sounded at 6.
20pm on Monday. It was only when a second alert sounded at 6.43pm that the blaze was discovered on the Gothic roof.As the flames were finally extinguished after eight hours’ destruction, prosecutors in Paris began a criminal investigation into the cause of the raging inferno.
Public prosecutor Heitz said the fire at the 850-year-old building was probably the result of an accident and there was no sign it was started deliberately.
“We are favouring the theory of an accident,” he said, adding that 50 people were working on a “long” and “complex” probe.
He said they would be interviewing workers from five companies that had been hired to work on renovations to the cathedral’s roof, which was where the fire is thought to have started.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- Huge blaze broke out at 850-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday afternoon
- The structure’s 300ft spire collapsed and Gothic roof turned to ash in the ferocious blaze
- 400 firefighters battled the inferno, managing to save the main structure and rescue Jesus’ Crown of Thorns
- Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into what caused the blaze
- President Emmanuel Macron said ‘We will rebuild’ as Paris mourned loss
- Millions have already donated towards restoration, including Salma Hayek’s French billionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault
This comes as French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to restore the famous church to its former glory within five years.
Addressing the nation, he said: “We will rebuild Notre Dame even more beautifully and I want it to be completed in five years. We can do it.
“It is up to us to change this disaster into an opportunity to come together, having deeply reflected on what we have been and what we have to be and become better than we are. It is up to us to find the thread of our national project.”
But after the blaze was finally brought under control, many on Twitter turned their anger towards those responsible for the disaster.
Notre Dame fire – French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to rebuild the cathedral so it’s ‘even more beautiful’ during address to the nation
“This is unacceptable, one of the most historic cathedrals in human history burning to the ground, a landmark, an icon,” wrote one user.
“I can only hope that the immolation was natural because if it is found that the blaze was caused by some idiot it’ll be disgusting beyond belief.”
Another added: “This is unacceptable. Whoever caused this deserves to rot.”
Others though appeared to have some sympathy for those responsible.
“In case it truly was an accident that caused the fire, we should pray for the person who made the mistake that started it all,” read one post.
“Can you imagine being the guy who accidentally burned down Notre Dame and how horrific that would be? He’s going to need prayers. Lots of them.”
The police probe is currently focused on Le Bras Freres (Le Bras Brothers), a company based in Jarny, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department of north-eastern France.
Some of its 200 specialist employees were working on the wooden and lead spire of Notre Dame Cathedral that collapsed on Monday evening after the fire broke out on the roof at 6.45pm.
“Many of these restorers were interviewed overnight,” said a source close to the investigation that has been opened into ‘accidental destruction by fire’.
“The fear is that a small fire began in the rood where they were working, and quickly spread across the building.
“The irony…
The post Notre Dame firefighters saved cathedral half an hour before collapse – after staff took 23 MINS to find blaze when alarm went off appeared first on FeedBox.