Fire Erupts in Rouen Cathedral Spire, Igniting Memories of Notre Dame Blaze

A fire broke out Thursday in the spire of Rouen Cathedral in northern France. Witnesses described smoke coming from the spire, reminiscent of the 2019 Notre Dame fire in Paris. The Rouen Cathedral, famous for its depiction by Claude Monet, has been evacuated as authorities investigate the cause.

A fire broke out Thursday in the spire of the medieval cathedral in the northern French city of Rouen, according to authorities.

Witnesses speaking on BFM television detailed smoke emanating from the spire, recalling the devastating fire in 2019 at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris that toppled its spire and collapsed its roof.

The cathedral in Rouen, located in Normandy, is widely known from a series of paintings by the impressionist artist Claude Monet.

Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol posted on social media platform X, stating, "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." The regional administration also posted online that the cathedral had been evacuated and a security perimeter established.

Meanwhile, the cathedral in Paris, a major landmark, is scheduled to reopen in December following an unprecedented reconstruction effort. The cause of that fire was deemed accidental.

(With inputs from agencies.)