Notre Dame Cathedral on fire!

Just happened in the past 20 or 30 minutes, I guess. The one picture does not look promising.

Watching live video on Fox right now...this is not going to end well. Sounds like part of the building is about to collapse.

They believe some of the renovation work being done at the Cathedral might be to blame for the start of the fire.

Terrible. A tragedy for sure.

Fire is evidently older than I thought. They're saying a "small fire" was reported around 11:30am (EDT).

Mind boggling that no water has been put on it. I realize that there's a ton of tourists typically around there...but, still...2 1/2 hours later and still nothing?

Watching news now. Looks like main structure in middle is gone and just metal scaffolding remaining.

All the priceless artwork......just awful.

Watching news now. Looks like main structure in middle is gone and just metal scaffolding remaining.

 

All the priceless artwork......just awful.

The spire collapsed as well.

I'm heartbroken. Around 800 years of history gone forever.

Entire roof reportedly has collapsed now.

That sacred building survived the Black Death, viking attacks, the Anglo-French Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, the French Revolution, World War I, World War II....and it's brought to the ground by construction workers.

Praying no one has been hurt.

Absolutely irreplaceable. Luckily it doesn't appear there are going to be any significant injuries, but the world has lost a cultural treasure forever, and that makes me a little sad. A piece of the world is gone that can never come back.

Some of the elements -- like the spire -- are newer (about 150 years ago I think), but all that stained glass that's now blown out all over the sidewalk is eight centuries old. I don't even know if there's anyone alive who can remake those rose windows. I just hope the structural integrity of the walls holds and we don't start losing those and the buttresses.

I saw one report that some of the statues and artwork were removed before the renovation started.

Horrible! Like everyone else, waiting for more details.

Horrible! Like everyone else, waiting for more details.

Pure speculation right now...but the theory that I've heard the most is that it was related to the renovation work going on. Now, whether it's a shorted electric cord, a rag over paint thinner, etc....nothing that specific have I heard.

Reports saying that firefighters have contained much of the blaze and the iconic western edifice with the bell towers is safe.