Notre-Dame Cathedral Fire

Notre-Dame Cathedral background image on Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris' official fundraising website. This picture was taken during the fire. You can see the fire fighters trying to contain and kill the fire that started in the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

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On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out under the eaves of Notre-Dame Cathedral’s roof. The fire engulfed the spire and most of the roof. The fire began around 6:30pm local Paris time on Monday, April 15 and burned until the next morning Tuesday, April 16.

Fire engulfed the spire and most of the roof. Thankfully, firefighters were able to control the blaze, saving the main structure including the bell towers and rose windows. Nobody was injured, and the Catholic relics housed in the cathedral and priceless works of art were rescued and brought to safety.

Choir sings in Notre-Dame for first time since 2019 fire
Around 6:30pm, the first fire alarm goes off. The priest celebrating Mass pauses the service, unsure if it is false alarm. No sign of fire is found, but the cathedral is evacuated as a precautionary measure.
2019 04 15 POURNY Michel Incendie N-D (54)
Around 6:45pm, the second alarm goes off, and fire is declared.
2019 04 15 POURNY Michel Incendie N-D (102)
Fire quickly spreads across the roof and the spire catches fire, sending huge clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.
On April 15, 2019, the world watched in horror as Notre-Dame Cathedral burned. Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris is the official 501(c)(3) charity leading the international fundraising efforts to rebuild and restore Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Around 7:30pm, the spire collapses and falls through the cathedral’s roof.
On April 15, 2019, the world watched in horror as Notre-Dame Cathedral burned
Hundreds of firefighters mobilize to Notre-Dame Cathedral.
2019 04 15 POURNY Michel Incendie N-D (90)
Over the next 4 hours, fire burns through most of the cathedral’s roof. The roof is supported by “the forest”, a lattice framework of wooden beams dating from the 13th century. The forest was consumed by the blaze.
On April 15, 2019, the world watched in horror as Notre-Dame Cathedral burned. Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris is the official 501(c)(3) charity leading the international fundraising efforts to rebuild and restore Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Thousands of people stand watching in disbelief along the banks of the Seine, praying and singing for Notre-Dame Cathedral.
On April 15, 2019, the world watched in horror as Notre-Dame Cathedral burned
Notre-Dame Cathedral continues to burn for several hours as firefighters rush to weaken the flames. There is fear that if the fire reaches the bell towers, the cathedral will collapse.
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The firefighters heroically manage to stop the blaze before it irreparably damages the wooden frame of the two belfry towers. While the south tower was not touched, the fire reached the framework of the north belfry, which was singed but remained intact. The bells and the rose windows also remained untouched by the fire.
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Before midnight, the bell towers are pronounced saved.
Construction workers analyzing the damage - Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris
Firefighters worked for over nine hours to get the flames under control.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
By 3:40am Tuesday morning, the fire service spokesman announces that the fire is under control.
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The fire is extinguished by mid-morning Tuesday.
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The cathedral’s main structure survived and several important Catholic relics were saved. The extent of the damage was not yet known and the building’s situation was precarious, exposed to fire, smoke and water damage.
Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris is the official 501(c)(3) charity leading the international fundraising efforts to rebuild and restore Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The cathedral’s main structure survived and several important Catholic relics were saved. The extent of the damage was not yet known and the building’s situation was precarious, exposed to fire, smoke and water damage.

Before The Fire

Established in 2017, Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris began to support efforts to restore Notre-Dame Cathedral. Pollution, rain and time weakened the cathedral’s basic structure, and an ambitious $135 million campaign was planned to save Notre-Dame de Paris.

On April 15, 2019, the scope of that campaign dramatically changed when a fire broke out under the eaves of Notre-Dame Cathedral’s roof.

This picture shows the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris team on a restoration site, before the fire. The picture depicts the statues of the Apostles in the background. This photo illustrates the section entitled:

After The Fire

After the fire, there was an overwhelming outpouring of support from the international community, including pledges totaling in the hundreds of millions over the duration of the reconstruction. Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris raised $10.6 million in 2019 from more than 10,500 donors in the US and in more than 50 countries outside France.

But there is still much work to be done. The reconstruction timeline and full budget needed will be finalized in 2021. Before the end of the reconstruction, we will also need to create an endowment that will help fund the maintenance of Notre-Dame Cathedral and avoid further decay.

This picture shows the roof and scaffolding of Notre-Dame de Paris, after the fire. The picture shows the burned roof and the scaffolding after the fire. This photo illustrates the section entitled:

We need your help rebuild, restore and protect notre-dame cathedral.

Now a huge task lies before us. We must rebuild, restore and protect Notre-Dame Cathedral. We must help open her doors once more to welcome the millions of visitors who come to visit her each year.

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