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Paris races to save Notre-Dame Cathedral as fire destroys steeple
AFP ^ | 15 Apr 2019 | Staff

Posted on 04/15/2019 2:36:08 PM PDT by Red Badger

French firefighters were racing Monday to save Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris after a colossal fire caused the spire of the historic edifice to crash to the ground and wiped out centuries of heritage.

The fire already destroyed the roof of the 850 year old UNESCO world heritage landmark, whose spectacular gothic spire collapsed before the eyes of horrified onlookers on a previously pristine early spring evening.

The fire, which came as Catholics prepare to celebrate Easter, sent orange flames and clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky as stunned Parisians and tourists watched on in horror.

Some were in tears, others offered prayers from the banks of the river Seine as the inferno devoured the cathedral.

As darkness fell, some 400 firefighters battled against the odds to control the fire and save at least its iconic front towers which were still standing.

"This is really sad —- the saddest thing I've ever stood and watched in my life," said British tourist Sam Ogden, a 50-year-old onlooker, who had come to visit the cathedral with her family.

Gasps and cries of "Oh my god" erupted around an hour after the fire first broke out when the top portion of the church's spire came crashing down.

- 'France is Notre Dame' -

The cause of the blaze was not immediately confirmed. The cathedral had been undergoing intense restoration work which the fire service said could be linked to the blaze.

Last week, dramatic footage had shown workers removing 16 copper statues from the spire which was undergoing a revamp financed by the state and private donors.

Historians expressed incredulity at the collapse of a building that has been a symbol of France for almost a millenium and withstood war and revolution.

(Excerpt) Read more at afp.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: didyousearch; france; koranimals; notredame; notredameburning; notredamecathedral; notredamefire; paris
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1 posted on 04/15/2019 2:36:08 PM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

And de Molay says: Alors!! c’est Karma.


2 posted on 04/15/2019 2:39:31 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
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To: Red Badger

What's so funny?

3 posted on 04/15/2019 2:40:07 PM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Bon mots

exactly


4 posted on 04/15/2019 2:42:08 PM PDT by samtheman (To steal an election, who do you collude with? Russians in Russia or Mexicans in California?)
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To: Bon mots

I heard (not verified) that it took 1 1/2 hours to get water there.


5 posted on 04/15/2019 2:45:44 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear
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To: Bon mots
They aren't the only ones laughing, I'm sure.


6 posted on 04/15/2019 2:46:17 PM PDT by samtheman (To steal an election, who do you collude with? Russians in Russia or Mexicans in California?)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

I heard (not verified) that it took 1 1/2 hours to get water there.

I heard that too.

Blamed it on the traffic.


7 posted on 04/15/2019 2:46:44 PM PDT by samtheman (To steal an election, who do you collude with? Russians in Russia or Mexicans in California?)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

Notre Dame sits on an island in the middle of a river.


8 posted on 04/15/2019 2:47:34 PM PDT by JerryBlackwell (some animals are more equal than others)
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To: Bon mots

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of an angry god............Hebrews 10:31


9 posted on 04/15/2019 2:48:24 PM PDT by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: samtheman

Burns on Holy Week no less.
Some people did something.


10 posted on 04/15/2019 2:49:58 PM PDT by MNDude (Don't be a "posted already Nazi" I am postin blind!)
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To: Red Badger

Fools.

11 posted on 04/15/2019 2:51:59 PM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Red Badger

Trump suggested they drop water from above like with a forest fire. Of course any suggestion by the US is to be quickly ignored.


12 posted on 04/15/2019 2:52:21 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: MNDude

Will be blamed on right wing white nationalists.


13 posted on 04/15/2019 2:52:42 PM PDT by NYAmerican
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To: Red Badger

I don’t think we have enough articles posted on the FR about this fire yet.


14 posted on 04/15/2019 2:53:32 PM PDT by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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To: Vaquero

The French specifically did not want to use that method, afraid of damaging the priceless artworks...............


15 posted on 04/15/2019 2:53:37 PM PDT by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

It’s almost like they wanted it to burn to the ground...

https://twitter.com/Jordan_Sather_/status/1117865701694267393

(weird post alert)


16 posted on 04/15/2019 2:53:41 PM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: Red Badger

What are you implying?


17 posted on 04/15/2019 2:56:17 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot)
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To: samtheman

Some fire did something.


18 posted on 04/15/2019 3:02:58 PM PDT by Pravious
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To: Red Badger

Top of the hour news

The spire was lost but two main towers were saved.

Scratch one from the bucket list.


19 posted on 04/15/2019 3:05:42 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Monthly Donors Rock!!!)
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To: Vaquero
A water dump from above would be a bad thing for two reasons. First, it would probably miss. Dumps work in dispersed forest fires, but it's hard to hit a building.

Second, water is really heavy and a dump all at once could cause more damage.

20 posted on 04/15/2019 3:06:10 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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