For Parisians, Paris IS finally burning.

While there, and elsewhere on continent in France and Italy, we were fascinated by the structure and construction of this and similar size Cathedrals. Blame it on reading Pillars of the Earth.

Sad to see this, even if not completely destroyed suspect the heat impact on mortar components may be terminal. Incredible.

If anyone has visions of keeping this thread open, could we maybe wait until the fire is at least out before speculating on cause and conspiracy?

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
Wood scaffolding currently around the structure probably didn't help matters.

they use steel scaffolding.

quote:

Originally posted by Mutiny:

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
Wood scaffolding currently around the structure probably didn't help matters.

they use steel scaffolding.

Aren't the platforms wood? Wood planks on a metal frame would be the worst. If it was all wood, it would fall away as it burns. Steel frame would hold the "tinder" up as it burns.

This too from Zero Hedge, with my commentary:

quote:

French firefighters are still putting together a plan to put out the blaze.

No doubt over a leisurely spread of wine and cheese...

Interesting and informative thread from a firefighter on some of the issues they are facing with a structure like this:

https://twitter.com/GreggFavre.../1117847726786371585

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
This too from Zero Hedge, with my commentary:

quote:

French firefighters are still putting together a plan to put out the blaze.

No doubt over a leisurely spread of wine and cheese...

Did seem to be a minimal amount of water being put on the blaze at first. Irreplaceable loss to history and humanity.

The fact that there doesn’t appear to be a contingency plan for this that was effective is baffling.

Macron should fall for this alone, let alone everything else.

Real shame

I was just at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. Does anybody know how that compares to the Notre Dame?

I'm guessing that the Notre Dame has been exhaustively digitally recorded. Hopefully we have a good record of everything that was still in there.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:

Macron should fall for this alone, let alone everything else.

How does this have anything to do with Macron? If anyone political, it should fall on that awful Paris mayor.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:

quote:

Originally posted by Mutiny:

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
Wood scaffolding currently around the structure probably didn't help matters.

they use steel scaffolding.

Aren't the platforms wood? Wood planks on a metal frame would be the worst. If it was all wood, it would fall away as it burns. Steel frame would hold the "tinder" up as it burns.

I don't specifically know what is being used for platforms at ND, but the scaffolds used on most Paris construction sites use aluminum or perforated steel platforms on the steel scaffolding.

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
Real shame

I was just at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. Does anybody know how that compares to the Notre Dame?

Notre Dame is roughly 700 years older.

I don't know if they are built similarly - they are both fundamentally stone structures.

Speaking of which, if everything wooden burns up, wouldn't the stone remain, perhaps not too badly damaged?

One commentator noted that there was a water storage tank internal to the building for fighting fire, but they could not speculate if it was utilized...

quote:

How does this have anything to do with Macron? If anyone political, it should fall on that awful Paris mayor.

C'mon guys... this isn't political.
Unless it's proven to be arson.

I'm not overly religious, but I hate seeing history wiped away in a blaze like this. At this point, I can only hope that no lives were lost.

- Bret

While this is horribly tragic I wouldn’t blame the firefighters.

It’s very common that if a cathedral catches on fire it’s going be almost impossible to put out. A big part of this is the wax build up from centuries of candles being burned. In addition the heavy timber construction means that once it starts burning it is almost impossible to stop due to the immense heat.

In addition a tanker aircraft would not be effective in this case especially while the building stood a chance of being saved.

As far as French firefighters go, I guarantee they were not having wine and cheese while deciding a course of action. I am proud to have some French firefighters as friends and the last thing they would want would be to have it burn down on their watch. The pride they have for the cathedral is much more then what you or I have.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
Real shame

I was just at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. Does anybody know how that compares to the Notre Dame?

Notre Dame is roughly 700 years older.

I don't know if they are built similarly - they are both fundamentally stone structures.

Speaking of which, if everything wooden burns up, wouldn't the stone remain, perhaps not too badly damaged?

Fire Damaged Stone Structures in Historical Monuments

if you want the French view, in English.

quote:

I guess the roof was all wood...

What you don't see, in between the roof and the ceiling, are the massive roof trusses, made out of wood 800 years ago. Once the fire got in there, it's was all over.

I would imagine the roof was made of slate or something similar. A wood (shingles?) roof would not last very long.

Source: The Great Courses, "Understanding the World's Greatest Structures: Science and Innovation from Antiquity to Modernity", Lesson 12.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:


if you want the French view, in English.

One at a time FFS.