A fire broke out on Thursday on the spire of the medieval Notre Dame Cathedral in Rouen, France. Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol confirmed that all public resources have been mobilized to tackle the blaze. In a statement on X, he said, "The beginning of a fire is underway on the spire of the cathedral of Rouen. The origin is unknown at this stage. All public resources are mobilized."

Authorities reported that the fire began during renovation works on the spire. Thankfully, there have been no casualties reported, though the extent of the damage remains uncertain.

For several weeks, the Rouen cathedral spire had been surrounded by scaffolding and a white cover due to the ongoing renovations. Following the outbreak of the fire, the local prefecture, which represents state authority in the region, announced that the cathedral had been evacuated and emergency services were on-site. A security cordon has been established around the historic structure.

The Notre Dame Cathedral of Rouen, a stunning example of French medieval gothic architecture, dates back to the 12th century. It is famously known for being repeatedly painted by impressionist artist Claude Monet in the 19th century.

This incident brings to mind the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019, which also started during renovation works. The latest fire at Rouen’s Notre Dame underscores the risks associated with renovating historic buildings.