Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

CelticRambler

Manic Moran wrote: »

It's actually not the worst idea. If the firefighters can't get to the flames as it is due to the height, why not try aerial attack? What's the worst that'll happen, the roof collapses under the weight?

The worst that'll happen is that the weight of the water crashing down on a weakened structure will cause the walls to explode outwards, destroying entirely the buildling that the firefighters are trying to save, probably killing several people in the vicinity and certainly causing massive damage to adjacent buildings ... and possibly also allowing the uncontained fire to now spread outwards beyond the no-longer present walls of the structure.

So do you still want to try it? :rolleyes:

MrMusician18

conorhal wrote: »

If the EU, who have spent all their time trying my last nerve lately, would like to do one thing that might put them back in my good graces, they could make it a European project to fund the full reconstruction of the cathedral.

They blather on about a 'European Identity', well they're watching it burn to the ground and they should restore this iconic piece of European heritage, otherwise Notre Dame will forever be a symbol of the decline of western civilization.

The way you say "they're watching it but to the ground" it's as if you think they're complicit in the cathedrals destruction.

Salty

This is sickening to watch. I've never managed to get to Paris and have not had the privilege of experiencing Notre Dame in all of it's magnificence first hand.

A devastating day for Parisians and for all the French.

Franz Von Peppercorn

GinAndBitter wrote: »

I saw this on twitter. Shocking. Hoped the fire was contained by now.

ahnowbrowncow

Varta wrote: »

Watching Notre Dame burning makes me feel so sad. It also makes me wonder if we are long past our zenith in terms of art and the creation of beautiful and lasting works. 850 years ago architects with pen and paper designed Notre Dame and builders without power tools built it. Yet today, with computer aided design and immense building power, all we get is glass boxes that will be lucky to last 50 years, never mind 850. While in fine art we get bland, talentless, rubbish that can only hang it's hat on controversy or shock value. A fragment of mankind's soul has been lost today. And I'm not referring to religion.

I agree with you.

But the bland practical buildings aren't too bad when you consider the human cost and profligacy involved in the making of those buildings and art.

HappyAsLarE

Very sad news. Remember being in awe when taken there as a child.

Anteayer

Strumms wrote: »

Trump...He just should just shut the fûck up with his ameteur observations of fire fighting 5000 miles away and with no information, to think a free democracy elected the fûcking prîck, Jesus.

He really needs to be reminded by the Mayor of Paris to keep raking America's forests.

CelticRambler

CelticRambler wrote: »

The worst that'll happen is that the weight of the water crashing down on a weakened structure will cause the walls to explode outwards, destroying entirely the buildling that the firefighters are trying to save, probably killing several people in the vicinity and certainly causing massive damage to adjacent buildings ... and possibly also allowing the uncontained fire to now spread outwards beyond the no-longer present walls of the structure.

So do you still want to try it? :rolleyes:

Think you're being a tad dramatic there (albeit I enjoyed the dramatics of your post ). If water, even a sizeable amount of it, could knock the walls so easily, then a hard gust of wind would do the same.


Water is generally dropped whilst the aircraft is still in motion. The water gets sprayed, not dropped downward directly.

JP Liz V1

Do we know the cause?

Such an iconic historic building and I assume would have many celebrations planned for Easter holy week

CelticRambler

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

I saw this on twitter. Shocking. Hoped the fire was contained by now.

That is it contained. What you're seeing is all of the roof, the pews, the wooden wall panelling, etc., burning inside the stone walls. (Un)fortunately, French firefighters are very well trained in dealing with fires in historic buildings like this and know that our American Cousin's suggestion of blowing the bejayus out of it with bombs and rockets and whatnot is the kind of nonsense that should stay in Hollywood, or countries where they regularly bulldoze their history in the name of "progress".

Danzy

People used build with a thousand years plus in mind.

Plant trees for harvesting 500 years later.

Now 25 years is a long term vision and a quarterly report is the most influential book.

CelticRambler

Deleted User wrote: »

Think you're being a tad dramatic there (albeit I enjoyed the dramatics of your post ). If water, even a sizeable amount of it, could knock the walls so easily, then a hard gust of wind would do the same.


Water is generally dropped whilst the aircraft is still in motion. The water gets sprayed, not dropped downward directly.

Ah, right. I'm sorry that my knowledge of physics is out-of-date. Remind me not to pay any attention to those tsunami warnings when I'm next out East, cos a bit of water never hurt anyone ... :rolleyes:

(What was it they were doing this morning in Fukushima again ... routine maintenance, was it? )

manual_man

Awake

dublinman1990

Macron just said in a press conference that will be an international funding campaign will begin to rebuild the cathedral.

MrMusician18

Deleted User wrote: »

Think you're being a tad dramatic there (albeit I enjoyed the dramatics of your post ). If water, even a sizeable amount of it, could knock the walls so easily, then a hard gust of wind would do the same.


Water is generally dropped whilst the aircraft is still in motion. The water gets sprayed, not dropped downward directly.

When you're dealing with a forest fire it doesn't matter if the trees get flattened.

But you're right, a gust of wind could knock the walls. That's why as soon as it's extinguished there'll be a massive operation to stabilise the remaining structure. If it's anything like other fire ravaged old buildings they'll put an over roof on it as well to protect it.

That will give them time to figure out what they want to do.

Assuming they restore it, it will be 10-15 years before it opens again.

manual_man

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Macron just said in a press conference that will be an international funding campaign will begin to rebuild the cathedral.

he inspires nothing

Snow Garden

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

I saw this on twitter. Shocking. Hoped the fire was contained by now.

Wow. It looks like the front 2 towers at the entrance will be intact but the rest of it is completely destroyed. Very sad to see.

Spanish Eyes

CelticRambler wrote: »

That is it contained. What you're seeing is all of the roof, the pews, the wooden wall panelling, etc., burning inside the stone walls. (Un)fortunately, French firefighters are very well trained in dealing with fires in historic buildings like this and know that our American Cousin's suggestion of blowing the bejayus out of it with bombs and rockets and whatnot is the kind of nonsense that should stay in Hollywood, or countries where they regularly bulldoze their history in the name of "progress".

America does not really have any heritage or history like Europe and elsewhere, apart from places like Boston and the Civil War sites. The Native Americans don't count anymore, they have been given free range to run casinos. Payback sorted.

That's just the way it is, so there is little concept of preserving heritage. You just have to look at the generic ribbons of dunkin donuts and the like all along their highways. So interesting.

1641

manual_man wrote:

he inspires nothing

Not now, man.

Danzy

josip wrote: »

Is limestone that resistant to heat?
The stonework was in fairly poor condition before the fire:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-43258266/notre-dame-cracks-in-the-cathedral

I wouldn't be surprised if parts of it collapse as it cools or if it has to be partially demolished in the future.

Lime heats up but when it gets wet it turns to dust.

The cold hard rock from the lime kiln, turning to powder at the first splash of water.

gctest50

CelticRambler wrote: »

The worst that'll happen is that the weight of the water crashing down on a weakened structure will cause the walls to explode outwards, destroying entirely the buildling that the firefighters are trying to save, probably killing several people in the vicinity and certainly causing massive damage to adjacent buildings ... and possibly also allowing the uncontained fire to now spread outwards beyond the no-longer present walls of the structure.

So do you still want to try it? :rolleyes:

Just rain it down

Strumms

manual_man wrote: »

he inspires nothing

Maybe not, at least though here he is doing the right thing, looking forward to what CAN be done which is his job and what the French people need right now.

Danzy

gctest50 wrote: »

Just rain it down

The Parisian fire brigade are 220 years old as a formal group and drawing from a lot longer than that.

They know what they are at.

manual_man

Strumms wrote: »

Maybe not, at least though here he is doing the right thing, looking forward to what CAN be done which is his job and what the French people need right now.

The sooner he is gone the better. I don't care if it is inappropriate. I watch him and i see an utterly uninspiring individual. He represents nothing. And the French people(and the world) need something.

Danzy

1641 wrote: »

Not now, man.

A fanatic, can't change their mind and they can't change the topic.

Danzy

manual_man wrote: »

The sooner he is gone the better. I don't care if it is inappropriate. I watch him and i see an utterly uninspiring individual. He represents nothing. And the French people(and the world) need something.

All about you.

d8491prj5boyvg

They'll be getting tips from Longford on how to rebuild

Guy:Incognito

Had to laugh when I saw westminster abbeys tweet "Devastated for our friends at #NotreDame and for the people of France.

You are in our thoughts and prayers tonight."

Prayers? Seriously? To God like? Surely if the ****er existed the place wouldnt be burning down.

Do they see no irony at all in saying stuff like that?

Sardonicat

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Had to laugh when I saw westminster abbeys tweet "Devastated for our friends at #NotreDame and for the people of France.

You are in our thoughts and prayers tonight."

Prayers? Seriously? To God like? Surely if the ****er existed the place wouldnt be burning down.

Do they see no irony at all in saying stuff like that?

Do you not see the irony in your post?

igCorcaigh

Nice to see so many beautiful and respectful comments here tonight. Would like to get to know you better.

Obviously the trolls are out too, but much more the former, well done boardsies.

Lotus Flower

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Had to laugh when I saw westminster abbeys tweet "Devastated for our friends at #NotreDame and for the people of France.

You are in our thoughts and prayers tonight."

Prayers? Seriously? To God like? Surely if the ****er existed the place wouldnt be burning down.

Do they see no irony at all in saying stuff like that?

Yawn

For Forks Sake

Danzy wrote: »

The Parisian fire brigade are 220 years old as a formal group and drawing from a lot longer than that.

They know what they are at.

What's the French for shade? Even posted in english for Trumpy

https://twitter.com/SecCivileFrance/status/1117874924268376064

Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.

manual_man

Strumms wrote: »

Exactly, I think for the betterment of the US and indeed the wider world someone should just put a bullet between his fûcking eyes, you might say the damage in every respect has been done but I think if he was just assinated by whomever, the world would be a better and nicer place.

No i absolutely don't think that. Violence ain't the answer. Someone who can really bring people together. Someone who can turn anxiety to calm. Asolutely not violence.

Wibbs

The Rose window is almost certainly lost. A thousand years gone up in smoke. Thankfully we have a scary level of information about every piece in the place and it can be rebuilt and will even reignite old skills mixed with the latest as it is being rebuilt.

touts

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Do we know the cause?

Such an iconic historic building and I assume would have many celebrations planned for Easter holy week

Unless someone saw it start and was able to say precisely what happened it's too early to say. I'd imagine there has to be an investigation which will take some time. All they can do for tonight is keep saying it was probably an accident to stop idiots burning down every mosque in Paris.

Anteayer

Danzy wrote: »

Lime heats up but when it gets wet it turns to dust.

The cold hard rock from the lime kiln, turning to powder at the first splash of water.

Yup. It's basically how they used to make whitewash.

Pero_Bueno

Sac Le Bluer !!!

Ursus Horribilis

Wibbs wrote: »

The Rose window is almost certainly lost. A thousand years gone up in smoke. Thankfully we have a scary level of information about every piece in the place and it can be rebuilt and will even reignite old skills mixed with the latest as it is being rebuilt.

I hope so Wibbs. Don't they laser scan some of these places for films and that sort of thing? I seem to remember reading somewhere that they did that with Kilmainham Gaol before using it in Paddington 2.

Pero_Bueno

Wibbs wrote: »

The Rose window is almost certainly lost. A thousand years gone up in smoke. Thankfully we have a scary level of information about every piece in the place and it can be rebuilt and will even reignite old skills mixed with the latest as it is being rebuilt.

Bollocks, they should just throw up a shopping mall or a mega starbucks there.

Anteayer

touts wrote: »

Unless someone saw it start and was able to say precisely what happened it's too early to say. I'd imagine there has to be an investigation which will take some time. All they can do for tonight is keep saying it was probably an accident to stop idiots burning down every mosque in Paris.

I'd say it's almost definitely an accidental issue. Sadly those buildings tend to go up very quickly because of the huge open space and the structures being so dependent on the roof.

It's possible something like an electrical issue in the attic space. There likely would have been temporary wiring running all over the place.

Hurrache

Wibbs wrote: »

The Rose window is almost certainly lost. A thousand years gone up in smoke. Thankfully we have a scary level of information about every piece in the place and it can be rebuilt and will even reignite old skills mixed with the latest as it is being rebuilt.

Completely laser mapped a couple of years ago wasn't it.

FrancieBrady

Wibbs wrote: »

The Rose window is almost certainly lost. A thousand years gone up in smoke. Thankfully we have a scary level of information about every piece in the place and it can be rebuilt and will even reignite old skills mixed with the latest as it is being rebuilt.

The skill of working in stained glass is still very much in plentiful supply. The only thing that would stop them being restored would be the cost and I don't think that will be a factor for this particular building.

Wibbs

Pero_Bueno wrote: »

Bollocks, they should just throw up a shopping mall or a mega starbucks there.

Understandable reply as one suspects those would be more your speed.

Danzy

touts wrote: »

Unless someone saw it start and was able to say precisely what happened it's too early to say. I'd imagine there has to be an investigation which will take some time. All they can do for tonight is keep saying it was probably an accident to stop idiots burning down every mosque in Paris.

If it was Jihadi Arson, it would drive a civil war.

branie2

Even when it is restored, it won't be the same

1641

Anteayer wrote:

I'd say it's almost definitely an accidental issue. Sadly those buildings tend to go up very quickly because of the huge open space and the structures being so dependent on the roof.

Nothing confirmed obviously, but on the tv they are speculating that its related to the ongoing restoration work on the roof.

igCorcaigh

branie2 wrote: »

Even when it is restored, it won't be the same

No, never.

Pero_Bueno

Wibbs wrote: »

Understandable reply as one suspects those would be more your speed.

Come on, it's AH.
No one was killed!

It's not a tragedy, really.
a lot worse has happened in the last few months.

Anteayer

I'm sure it will be restored to its former glory.

One of the things being reported a lot on French media is that quite a lot of the artworks and even the external statues had been temporarily removed for conservation work. So a lot of the artwork has been inadvertently saved.

FrancieBrady

Incredible to think it was an iconic place in the early 1400's and we lost it tonight.