BREAKING: Paris landmark, Notre Dame Cathedral, is on fire!

Werewolf · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:01

Can we keep this on topic.

StriderX · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:01

‘Goring’ seems apt.

ajf · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:02

Azza said:
I presume a university or another institute will have detailed 3d mapping of the building?

Yes, apparently they do:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/wor...b4cfc0b6e1330677203c8d&pinned_post_type=share

P.S thanks to those re question on aerial fire fighting.

robgmun · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:04

How absolutely heartbreaking.

I've been there a 2-3 times over the years, last time as recently as last summer. I hope no matter how much damage it receives, it gets fully restored. If they can rebuild the Catty Sark almost from scratch then it can be done.

FoxEye · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:14

robgmun said:
How absolutely heartbreaking.

I've been there a 2-3 times over the years, last time as recently as last summer. I hope no matter how much damage it receives, it gets fully restored. If they can rebuild the Catty Sark almost from scratch then it can be done.

I don't know.

We spend millions, billions probably, keeping these things erect and safe and looking pristine, well beyond their naturally lifetimes, in a mammoth effort to resist their natural decay.

I do understand that they are great works of art. But they were built by people who looked forwards and lived in the moment. And could muster the money and resolve to create great works.

Whereas we today are trying to look backwards and hold on to these things, well past their natural lifetimes, spending vast (incredible) sums restoring and maintaining them.

Listen, if the Houses of Parliament burned down tomorrow I wouldn't really care either. Well I would if there were any loss of life. But it's just an old structure.

Let's do what they did and build something new and be creative.

Let the old decay and then when it's run its course replace it.

That is the lesson from nature and the natural world. Things have a lifetime and then comes renewal. And fire is often a part of that!

We on the other hand try to keep things going forever..

Of course someone might have calculated that they are worth more in tourism revenue than they costs in maintenance. Fair enough.

I just won't shed a tear about an old (admittedly grand) building reaching the end of its very long life.

VincentHanna · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:23

FoxEye said:
I don't know.

We spend millions, billions probably, keeping these things erect and safe and looking pristine, well beyond their naturally lifetimes, in a mammoth effort to resist their natural decay.

I do understand that they are great works of art. But they were built by people who looked forwards and lived in the moment. And could muster the money and resolve to create great works.

Whereas we today are trying to look backwards and hold on to these things, well past their natural lifetimes, spending vast (incredible) sums restoring and maintaining them.

Listen, if the Houses of Parliament burned down tomorrow I wouldn't really care either. Well I would if there were any loss of life. But it's just an old structure.

Let's do what they did and build something new and be creative.

Let the old decay and then when it's run its course replace it.

That is the lesson from nature and the natural world. Things have a lifetime and then comes renewal. And fire is often a part of that!

We on the other hand try to keep things going forever..

Of course someone might have calculated that they are worth more in tourism revenue than they costs in maintenance. Fair enough.

I just won't shed a tear about an old (admittedly grand) building reaching the end of its very long life.

It took 180 years to build, I would say they were patient rather than forward looking.

ZG002 · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:29

VincentHanna said:
It took 180 years to build, I would say they were patient rather than forward looking.

Quite!

Looks like one of the bell towers is catching now. :/

Jumper118 · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:36

well the french contribution to global warming just went up a couple of %.

Randomface74 · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:37

someone mentioned drones being used, maybe to inspect it or something.

made me think a drone would explain how a fire could start on a roof. drone+molotov=rip

Azza · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:43

ajf said:
Yes, apparently they do:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-47942176?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=5cb4cfc0b6e1330677203c8d&Laser imagery of the church's interior&2019-04-15T18:48:46.627Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:c519ba26-0a13-4853-8080-b2b2109ff28f&pinned_post_asset_id=5cb4cfc0b6e1330677203c8d&pinned_post_type=share

P.S thanks to those re question on aerial fire fighting.

Oh that's good.

ZG002 · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:44

billysielu said:
someone mentioned drones being used, maybe to inspect it or something.

made me think a drone would explain how a fire could start on a roof. drone+molotov=rip

Give over,

It's very likely to do with some hot works linked to the construction work that was on going.

FoxEye · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:45

billysielu said:
someone mentioned drones being used, maybe to inspect it or something.

made me think a drone would explain how a fire could start on a roof. drone+molotov=rip

Do you often inspect things with molotov cocktails?

Diddums · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:50

One of the most iconic buildings ever built, such a shame

glenimp617 · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:51

180 years to build? These days we knock them up in 180 days

MartinPrince · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:51

robgmun said:
How absolutely heartbreaking.

I've been there a 2-3 times over the years, last time as recently as last summer. I hope no matter how much damage it receives, it gets fully restored. If they can rebuild the Catty Sark almost from scratch then it can be done.

I hope so but it's not certain they can save enough of it. I treated my missus to a visit to Paris when she was pregnant so we have great memories of visiting here. One of the great churches/buildings in the world.

glenimp617 · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:55

You can't rebuild it.

The best would be a poor replica. Not the same.

ci_newman · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:56

TheOracle said:
180 years to build? These days we knock them up in 180 days

Fair point, but nothing we build today will still be around in almost 1000years like this was standing

FoxEye · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:56

TheOracle said:
180 years to build? These days we knock them up in 180 days

We don't use quite so many carved stone gargoyles these days

Rannoch · 15 Apr 2019 at 20:58

French deputy interior minister Laurent Nunez has told reporters it is 'not certain' that the cathedral can be saved, according to news agency AFP

Diddums · 15 Apr 2019 at 21:00

Vargas said:
French deputy interior minister Laurent Nunez has told reporters it is 'not certain' that the cathedral can be saved, according to news agency AFP

Too early to tell. Of course it can be rebuilt, anything can