Paris- Notre Dame Cathedral on fire

[drcoastline]

Very sad.

[Baz]

Terrible!

[berettafan]

That is heartbreaking.

[RWebb]

one news outlet reported that they could not use water due to the art, etc. inside

if true, that means... foam?

[Zeke]

Wife was watching news and she heard them say water pressure (volume) was low. As well as 20 some odd million spectators in the way of emergency equipment. Hopefully they have that sorted by now.

[LWJ]

Tragic. That place is iconic.

[Balloonmeister]

I worked for the DoD as a consultant for 10 years on a Mutual Defense Agreement with France. Probably made over 70 trips to Paris during that time and nearly every time would visit Notre Dame to just sit, pray and gaze in wonder as to how such a magnificent structure could have been built over 800 years ago. I am beyond saddened for the good people of France in their loss today and am thankful though that it appears no one was injured in the fire.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Balloonmeister

I worked for the DoD as a consultant for 10 years on a Mutual Defense Agreement with France. Probably made over 70 trips to Paris during that time and nearly every time would visit Notre Dame to just sit, pray and gaze in wonder as to how such a magnificent structure could have been built over 800 years ago. I am beyond saddened for the good people of France in their loss today and am thankful though that it appears no one was injured in the fire.

Wonderful post.

I have only been twice. While Catholic, I am not religious...I gazed in wonder as well.

My wife has climbed the towers, looked down on Paris from that purchase before we met.

The world lit only by light.

[Gretch]

[sammyg2]

I've never been to you-rope but when my son was little (maybe 7), he got interested in the arch as a construction technique. He had been reading about the natural strength of the arch and how it distributed weight and load. That let to studying flying buttresses and naturally to studying the cathedral.
We got pretty deep into the math and I'm pretty sure I learned more about it than he did.
I am sad that this happened but I am also optimistic that they will rebuild it.
it will never be exactly the same but it will survive.

[Alan A]

anyone care to speculate how it started?

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Alan A

anyone care to speculate how it started?

Construction

[996AE]

My son and I when traveling France, Germany and Italy last spring spent 10 days in Paris. We stayed close to Norte Dame as I Like the neighborhood and restaurants in that area of Paris.

Hard to believe this iconic Cathedral is largely destroyed.

Beyond sad.

Blessed to have made this journey many times over the years with family and friends. Hard to believe our next visit this is what we will see.

[Baz]

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have only been twice. While Catholic, I am not religious...I gazed in wonder as well.
.

I was there twice. I’m not Catholic or very religious, but entering the sanctuary is a humbling experience. It makes one feel small and insignificant, which I’m sure was the point of building it. It is an amazing piece of human achievement, from engineering, psychological, and religious perspectives. I’m not a strong believer, but I lit votives and said prayers for my dying grandson. “I don’t know if this stuff works, but if it works anywhere, it must work here.”
Sad to see it damaged, but I’m glad so much of Notre Dame was saved.

[TimT]

anyone care to speculate how it started?

Unless it was something nefarious...

It was something stupid....

Improper storage of rags + linseed oil = fire!....

I know first hand... happened on the Williamsburg Bridge...

And then a few years later on the Ben Franklin Bridge..

A simple lapse in housekeeping can be disastrous

[Jims5543]

I am seeing reports it was nefarious. Anyone else or are my sources:

A. Wrong

B. Way ahead of the media.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[javadog]

I’m not seeing those reports, care to share what you know?

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I am seeing reports it was nefarious. Anyone else or are my sources:

A. Wrong

B. Way ahead of the media.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I haven't heard any reports, in fact news sources have been very cautious and even cut off speculators.

I will hold off on passing judgement, but in light of the desecration of Catholic Churches around France in the past few months, the fact that this fire started the day after Palm Sunday and one week before Easter and that it started five minutes after the Cathedral closed makes one wonder if it is more than an accident.

I imagine time will tell.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Balloonmeister

visit Notre Dame to just sit, pray and gaze in wonder as to how such a magnificent structure could have been built over 800 years ago..

That's how I felt when I had the chance to visit with the Pieta. Seeing that glorious work just didn't line up with it being a slab of stone.