French firefighters race to put out the fire at the cathedral in Rouen.

French firemen are fighting a fire that broke out at the famous Rouen Cathedral in northern France with great speed and coordination. The local prefecture and emergency fire services report that the fire started in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, which is presently undergoing reconstruction, about 12:00 on Thursday.

Smoke billowed from the central spire of the Gothic church, a masterwork from the 12th century that was captured in Claude Monet’s Impressionist paintings. Concerned bystanders crowded the streets below as a dense column of smoke rose menacingly from the spire in the first pictures.

Later footage revealed that the smoke’s intensity had decreased as the day went on. Smoke was still visible through the scaffolding that surrounded the spire, but it was no longer rising in dark columns, a sign that the firefighting efforts were making headway.

The mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, stated on X that all of the public resources at his disposal had been deployed to put out the fire. At this point, the fire’s source is yet unknown. In order to facilitate emergency response activities, the local prefecture declared the cathedral to be evacuated, set up a security perimeter around it, and asked the public to stay away.

No casualties have been reported as of yet. Although the prefecture has certified that the workers present at the site during the renovation are safe, the amount of the damage is still being examined. The archbishop of the cathedral also guaranteed the safety of those working on the renovations.

Over its 800-year history, the Rouen Cathedral, known for its architectural magnificence, has undergone multiple constructions and renovations. It is especially well-known for its three unique towers and has aspects of early Gothic, late Flamboyant, and Renaissance styles. Remarkably, the cathedral was once the highest structure in the world at 151 meters (500 feet) thanks to the iron spire of the central tower, which was finished in the 19th century following a lightning-caused fire in 1822.

The cathedral’s 64-bell carillon, whose chimes may be heard from 5 kilometers (3 miles) away, and Joan of Arc, the tallest bell, are housed in the Saint-Roman Tower, dating from the 12th century. The recent fire reminds many of the devastating fire that occurred at Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2019 during renovations. That fire severely damaged the timber frame and roof of the cathedral.

While firemen strive to ensure the fire is completely controlled and the historic structure is maintained for future generations, French officials continue to constantly watch the situation. We’ll release further updates when new data becomes available.