Fire breaks out in spire of famous Rouen Cathedral in France – five years after Notre Dame fire

A mysterious fire broke out today at Rouen Cathedral in northern France, prompting visitors to leave the ancient place of worship.

Thick black smoke was filmed coming from the main tower in the late morning, in an area where renovation work was taking place.

“The fire brigade is on site and the cathedral has been evacuated,” said an emergency services spokesperson.

The city’s mayor, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, went to X to say: ‘A fire has broken out on the spire of Rouen Cathedral. Origin unknown at this time. All public resources are being mobilized.’

Local media reported that 33 fire engines and 63 firefighters were on the scene, which were cordoned off. Public transport in the city of about 110,000 people was severely disrupted.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown. The fire is now under control.

Thick black smoke was filmed coming from the main tower of Rouen Cathedral in the late morning, in an area where renovation work was taking place

The 1,000-year-old cathedral (pictured) was a favorite of famed Impressionist Claude Monet, who painted it several times in the 19th century

According to local media, the middle tower has been covered with a protective tarpaulin for several weeks. The fire appears to have started on a work platform.

According to local sources, the spire is ‘not made of wood, but of metal’.

The 1,000-year-old cathedral was a favorite work of famed impressionist Claude Monet, who painted the cathedral several times in the 19th century.

According to the French Ministry of Culture, it was the start of a seven-year restoration project in 2017.

Rouen Cathedral was consecrated in 1062 in the presence of William, Duke of Normandy, who later became William the Conqueror.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption – its full name – in Rouen is now famous for its three towers, the main one in the middle of which was on fire on Thursday.

The cathedral was hit by RAF and American bombing just before D-Day in 1944 and has been under almost constant renovation ever since.

The middle tower has been covered with a protective tarpaulin for several weeks

Local media reported that 33 fire engines and 63 firefighters were at the scene, which had been cordoned off.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown

It was in the midst of a seven-year restoration project that began in 2017

The fire in northern France started after the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was destroyed by a devastating fire in April 2019.

The fire at Notre Dame in Paris also started at a site where renovation work was taking place. Faulty electrical equipment or a discarded cigarette are suspected to be the cause.

By the time the fire was extinguished, Notre Dame’s wooden spire had collapsed, most of the wooden roof had been destroyed, and the building’s upper walls were badly damaged.

Three emergency workers were injured during the fire.