Firefighters Prevent Major Damage at Rouen's Historic Cathedral

Firefighters in Rouen quickly extinguished a blaze at the city's historic cathedral, alleviating fears of a repeat of the tragic Notre-Dame fire. The spire, under renovation and covered in scaffolding and tarpaulin, caught fire, prompting swift emergency response and relief from the local community.

Firefighters in Rouen swiftly extinguished a blaze at the historic cathedral on Thursday, much to the relief of locals fearful of another Notre-Dame-type disaster. They saw dark smoke rising from the spire, which is renowned for its Gothic architecture and 19th-century Monet paintings.

Authorities declared the fire out by 4:30 p.m. local time. The spire, under renovation and cloaked in scaffolding, burned after a fire broke out approximately 120 meters above ground. Emergency teams quickly established a security perimeter.

Patrick Waeselynck, an eyewitness, described the scene as intense, with large flames and dark smoke. Fire chief Stephane Gouezec confirmed the blaze involved plastic materials from the renovation site and that no workers were injured. Archbishop Dominique Lebrun expressed relief that the site personnel were unharmed and noted the extensive preventative measures in place.

(With inputs from agencies.)