Notre-Dame cathedral ablaze

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by _dgn_

The 16 copper statues around the spire (the 12 apostles + the 4 evangelists) were fortunately removed last week, for the beginning of the planned works. "Fortunately"salvaged : they would not been able to resist to the fall of the spire, constituted of 500 tons of wood and 250 tons of lead ...

Yestersday, the saved precious objects from Notre-Dame were stored, for security reasons, in the near "Préfecture de Police" (Paris police headquarters), and in the near "Mairie de Paris" (main city hall), but the Louvres Museum seems to be more appropriate for storing such religious/historical/artistical items, with the same security level.

Difficult to know, today, exactly what was (partially/totally) destroyed or (lightly/severely) damaged. And water used by the BSBP (the military firemen Brigade in Paris) has naturally caused damages, but protected the 3 rose windows to blow (some light damages in these pieces dating from XIInd and XIIIrd century, but the lead holding the coloured glas pieces didnt' fuse). But much damages with the other stained-glass windows (dating from XIXth century).

Some large paintings (generally 2x3 m -> difficult to dismount and to rapidly take them) disappeared "for all eternity" in the flames, but the main altar survived. Some "small" collapses in the vault, but the main vault resisted. And the great organ (8000 pipes made from lead & tin) was preserved, not only from the fire, but from the water hoses (located under the Northern rose window, largely watered by the firemen).

The main Christian relics ("Crown of thorns" of Jesus, a nail from the "Holy Cross" and a small part of this cross, the tunic of the king Saint Louis) were first taken away, but a statue (a coq) containing a small chunk of the "Crown of thorns", a relic from Saint-Denis and another from Sainte-Geneviève (patroness of Lutetia/Paris) were destroyed, because located at the tip of the spire. Other (minor) relics and some precious liturgical items seem to be considered as "missing", while the Treasury of Notre-Dame remains intact.

A precise inventory (about artefacts and about the building itself) will be possible in the next days, but if the main stucture of the cathedral is still present, it's difficult to know its real state. When stones reach a high temperature, and after a thermal shock with cold water (pumped directly from the Seine River), some serious investigations about the materials are necessary. And a large amount of humidity needs now to be drained.

750 million Euros seems bo be collected today : Pinault & "Total", but also Françoise Bettencourt & "L’Oréal" (200 million), Bernard Arnault and "LVMH" (same amount), French banks ... Outside France : Tim Cook & "Apple".

But a national contribution is about to be organized, without any speculation objective. Because the readiness of the "big" French firms for giving much money is hiding the possibility for them to gain tax credits. A well aimed charity !

So some recent informations, as requested by Commander Wallace.
Cheers.

As Catfish said, thanks for the Information, dgn. The loses were not something we wanted to hear but as em2nought said, the damage to the structure itself seems relatively light. The loss in paintings is something else. They were irreplaceable. You had also mentioned the 16 copper statues around the spire had already been removed.

I know those here in the U.S feel a great sense of loss for the fire at Notre Dame and I'm sure all of Europe, if not the world feels much the same way.

As Neal said, With the saving of relics, Notre Dame Cathedral should be able to be restored to it's former splendor. A comment was made that not enough wood exists in France to rebuild the roof. Certainly, wood can be obtained from other sources or as Skybird had said, other materials can be sourced to complete the new roof. Perhaps solar panels to generate electricity to aid in the cooling and heating could be used while still maintaining the nuance and feeling of the Cathedral.

Please keep us up to date on what's happening at Notre Dame, dgn. The Cathedral is not only a national treasure to France, but one felt worldwide. We all care about it's restoration and the loss suffered by France itself.


Keep your head up. Better days are ahead.

[Eichhörnchen]

It will still be there, that's the important thing... so glad about that

And here in the UK it was the only thing that seemed to stop us rankling over Brexit, for 24 hours at least

[mapuc]

Even though it haven't occurred yet, it will only be a matter of time.

People who will do anything to gain benefits of this fire.

From what I understand there are x billions of dollars collected to rebuild Notre Dame.

From my knowledge in psychology and history I know there will be people who will do anything to gain benefits from this.

Of course a constructor shall have money for the job they do

but there will be some who will take a lot more for their job, a lot more than what it really cost.

Sorry for this negative hick-up.

Markus

[Mr Quatro]

Suspicious already with the first fire alarm sounding and the workers looked around for 23 mintues reporting that they saw no fire and then the second alarm went off ...

Doesn't sound like the workmen are responcible.

[em2nought]

"How Notre Dame Could Be Rebuilt With The Help Of Assassin’s Creed: Unity"

https://www.unilad.co.uk/gaming/how-...ce=gamingbible

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

Suspicious already with the first fire alarm sounding and the workers looked around for 23 mintues reporting that they saw no fire and then the second alarm went off ...

Doesn't sound like the workmen are responcible.

Not really all that suspicious; on a building of that size, an alarm might sound due to whatever conditions sensors were monitoring without any outward signs of the source; I have seen, and been in, high rises where an alarm has sounded without any visible smoke or flames and the source was not discovered until after the buildings were evacuated and the firefighters arrived to investigate...











<O>

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by em2nought

"How Notre Dame Could Be Rebuilt With The Help Of Assassin’s Creed: Unity"

https://www.unilad.co.uk/gaming/how-...ce=gamingbible

There already exists detailed 3d scans of the building.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

Suspicious already with the first fire alarm sounding and the workers looked around for 23 mintues reporting that they saw no fire and then the second alarm went off ...

Doesn't sound like the workmen are responcible.

Uh oh, you're insinuating that which is NOT allowed to be insinuated in our "woke" society. How dare you?

[Mr Quatro]

https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/17/...s-creed-unity/

Ubisoft donates $564,000 to the ND fire/restore fund ...

Hey! That's fifty of my dollars UBI

[Torvald Von Mansee]

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Torvald Von Mansee

[Jimbuna]

It might seem a little churlish to criticise the International Olympic Committee for a charitable act, that is donating €500,000 (£432,000) to help rebuild the Notre-Dame. The sight of the famous cathedral ablaze was deeply affecting, not just for Catholics but anyone with a respect for its cultural, historical and religious significance, as was the prediction that it could cost an eye watering $3.3bn (£2.5bn) to restore it to full health.

https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views...nding-11700443

[Mr Quatro]

Shoot for that kind of money leave it the way it is and spend the money on all of those immigrants from North Africa to have a place to live

[_dgn_]

After the drama ...

Some goods news : the famous bonze statue (a coq) containing a small chunk of the "Crown of Thorns" of Jesus, a relic from Saint-Denis (first bishop of Lutetia/Paris) and another from Sainte-Geneviève (patroness of Lutetia/Paris) was found intact (but a little dented) in the ruins of Notre-Dame, in spite of its fall from the top of the spire (96 m), but beyond flames. Everybody can give an adapted explanation to this particular event ...

Another important information : none of the large and old paintings ("Mays") was destroyed, in contradiction with the initial news. But some restoration is needed, because of the soot traces (from the fire) and humidity (from the water used while fighting fire).

Major bad new : all the vault is broken down (between the bell-towers and the chorus) ...

The BSPP (Brigade des Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris or Paris sapper firemen Brigade) realized a remarkable work. Their job is generally to save lifes, not goods, but it wasn't the case this time. Their chief, Major General Jean-Claude Gallet, was quickly present on the place : he asked volunteers in order to save the major religious and cultural artefacts of Notre-Dame, and naturally the "Blessed Sacrament" (Notre-Dame is essentially a religious building, even if it's often only considered as a touristical place). This team wad leed by the chaplain of the BSPP. For their protection, a "safe" corridor was organised from the entry (under the bell-towers) to the chorus, thus on the entire length of the cathedral, and thus under the "blazing inferno" for this particular operation. In the same spirit, other volunteers (from the officers, NCOs and sappers of the BSPP) were asked for entering the both towers for saving them while fighting fire from the top of them. Cordial thanks for them.

Much time is now needed for knowing the precise state of the stones of Notre-Dame, an essential stage before the (possible) reconstruction.

Cheers.

[Jimbuna]

Thanks for the update