Posted on 04/16/2019 8:34:04 AM PDT by Red Badger
Julien Le Bras had vowed that his building firm would 'not put the building at risk' when it won the contract
He said 'there is no question that we will put any pressure' on the spire of the cathedral - which fell last night
French investigators are now probing the renovation work as they examine the causes of Monday's huge fire ============================================================================
A young construction boss boasted about his firm's ability to protect historic sites when it won a contract to repair the spire of Notre Dame, MailOnline can reveal.
Julien Le Bras declared last year: 'Our first thought is to protect the values of historical buildings, it's in our DNA.'
His company, Le Bras Freres, a small company known as the 'Cathedral Restorers', had won the £5million contract to repair the spire of the Paris landmark.
Today craftsmen from the company were being questioned by investigators after the spire came crashing down in Monday's blaze, which caused such extensive damage that experts believe it could take decades to repair.
Investigators believe the devastating blaze started in the roof cavity below the spire where the work, which included the use of electric tools, was being carried out.
The blaze began at around 6.50pm but workers would reportedly have downed tools between 5pm and 5.30pm.
Mr le Bras told reporters at the scene: 'We want more than anyone for light to be shed on the origin of this drama.'
He said his company has 12 workers involved in the refurbishment, though none were on site at the time of the fire.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It’s France. There are no others.
“Why do they speculate that is was a construction fire? They have no clue. It is a rush to judgment.”
It’s a fair speculation.
Equally fair is to speculate arson.
I agree about the rush to judgement.
“The firm boasts that it is proud to employ French workers and has refused to take on ‘low-cost’ staff from abroad.”
Hmmm. What an interesting statement.
It’s doubtful that an arsonist would climb to the top of the building to start a fire unless the construction scaffolding somehow made that the only part of the building that was easily accessible. I wonder if they have security cameras or anyone guarding the construction site after hours? Thieves often target construction sites to steal tools or other valuable equipment.
#fallguy
#patsy
#squirrel!!!
I owe an apology. Yesterday a FReeper commented that they might have had "third rate" restoration workers, and I jumped in and opined they were probably "Third World.
Looks like I was wrong, which is a lesson to me not to speculate about things on the basis of no evidence.
This is what I want to know.
My uncle has been in construction and a licensed engineer in NYC for nearly 60 years. He worked on renovations to old churches and museums thoughout the city, along with skyscrapers. He said construction fires such as this, especially in the absence of modern polymers, polyurethanes, etc is "exceedingly rare." (Notre Dame's work was essentially wood, lead and concrete).
He suspects foul play, but doesn't expect the French to ever admit it if so. "Heads would roll, starting with Macron's," he said.
The thing is made of wood. Why would there be any welding?
The roof was made of lead, and perhaps they used gas fired lead pots in working on it.
Exactly right...unless "they" have pertinent facts in which case, of course, they are not speculating.
To your point:
Was 24/7 security personnel in place with sufficient perimeter fencing? (One would think so if only to keep out the tourists.)
Was temporary power and lighting used before and after the work day? If so, is there any record of a failure in either equipment or lighting prior to the fire?
What other existing or construction-related equipment continued to operate after work hours?
Were materials or equipment recently delivered that had not yet been opened?
Have all employees, workers and others with access to the worksite been interviewed and, if not, have they been identified?
Just off the top...the checklist is much longer.
Maybe the guy who did the new wing on the Guggenheim is available. Heard it didn’t take him too long.
Overheated lithium battery in a power tool.
what is that?
Wow!
It was Colonel Muzzie in the Conservatory with a Candlestick.
> Looks like I was wrong, which is a lesson to me not to speculate about things on the basis of no evidence. <
Don’t surrender just yet, Mrs. Don-o. It all depends what the phrase “French workers” means. It could mean that they are all skilled tradesmen, with decades of experience working in France.
Or it could mean a bunch of guys from Algeria who just got their French citizenship a few years ago.
Or it could mean some combination of the two.
Not a priest. But it moves while the smoke billows.
Good one Larry!
Maybe Trump can restore it for a few million by next Easter? I’m serious.
Is it me or are the authorities screeching a bit loudly and prematurely about “accident”?
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