Saving Notre-dame Apr 2026

Sparked by the devastating fire on April 15, 2019, this massive undertaking transitioned from a desperate battle against flames into a years-long triumph of engineering, traditional craftsmanship, and global solidarity. 🔥 The Night of the Fire

The intense blaze quickly consumed the "forest" (the cathedral's massive 12th-century oak roof) and caused the iconic 19th-century spire to collapse through the stone vaulting.

In the immediate aftermath, Notre-Dame was on the brink of total collapse. The fire had weakened the limestone walls and destroyed the timber roof that held the building's massive tension in place.

On April 15, 2019, the world watched in shock as a massive structural fire broke out beneath the roof of the 850-year-old French Gothic masterpiece.

Visiting Notre Dame in 1982/3 and watching "Saving ... - Facebook

Risking their lives, hundreds of Paris firefighters battled for nine hours to save the main stone structure and the iconic twin bell towers.

Working alongside curators, emergency personnel formed human chains to evacuate invaluable relics, including the Crown of Thorns. 🏗️ The Critical Stabilization Phase