Breaking News: Fire Engulfs Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
- Nicole Floyd
- Apr 29, 2019
- 1 min read
Updated: Oct 28, 2020
RICHMOND, Va -- (WVUU) A catastrophic fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday, altering the city's skyline and threatening a potent symbol of Catholicism at the start of Holy Week.
The fire burned for several hours, destroying the 850-year-old cathedral's iconic spire and roof before firefighters contained the blaze early Tuesday morning.
"The cathedral’s structure has been saved and the main works of art are safe," the French city's fire service said in a tweet.
The blaze caused the building's roof to collapse, destroyed a spire, and spread to one of its two rectangular towers.
No one was killed, but two police officers and a firefighter were injured.
The fire started at 6:50 p.m. after the landmark had closed to the public. Around 400 firefighters worked through the night to cool the building and secure the monument, as residual sparks sprinkled down from the hole where the spire used to be.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the country's citizens must push through their sadness.
"With pride I tell you tonight that we will rebuild this cathedral, all together," Macron added. "It's part of the fate, the destiny of France, and our common project over the coming years. And I am committed to it."
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