The full-scale exercise took place on Monday October 21, 2024 in Rouen Cathedral for three hours. Objective: to extinguish a fire at height and protect the works of the monument. A simulation reminiscent of the intervention on July 11 on the outbreak of fire on the arrow.
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Around thirty firefighters from the SDIS (Departmental Fire and Rescue Service) 76, around ten fire vehicles, the large ladder, a command post… Passersby were taken aback by the deployment of fire soldiers to Rouen Cathedral (Seine-Maritime), this Monday, October 21, 2024. A reassuring sign, the sirens did not sound.
Exercise scenario: a fire starting at the base of the arrow, called the drum. Objective: test coordination between firefighters, state services, the DRAC (historical monuments) and the diocese.
Rouen is one of the 66 religious buildings involved in the “cathedral plan”. The State system launched following the fire at Notre-Dame-de-Paris.
A 70 meter high dry column
It’s a speed race. To have access to water as quickly as possible, firefighters have a dry column, i.e. a“fixed and rigid piping intended to facilitate the intervention of firefighters. They are then connected to flexible pipes to be put in place charge at the time of employment”, according to the national fire brigade.
In Rouen Cathedral, it rises up to 70 meters high. Its level was raised after the fire broke out in July 2024 on the spire restoration site.
A second team of firefighters is tasked with implementing the “cultural property protection plan”. She has in mind the list of objects to protect or move during the intervention and their place in the building.
During an intervention, the fire and the flow of water from the nozzles are, as we know, destructive. Two methods, either cover the works and objects if they are monumental, or move them to a safe place.
Florie Alard, curator of historical monuments at the DRAC, specifies that around ten works had to be saved as a priority in the event of a disaster.
The fire drill at Rouen Cathedral included the protection of liturgical objects and sculptures.
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© S. Callier/ France Télévisions
During the exercise of October 21, several works of the altar were covered, including the sculpture of Christ on the cross by Clodion. Other elements were moved in front of the cathedral’s entrance portal.
It is the knowledge of the place that makes the operation successful.
Colonel Delbassée-Leflon, deputy director SDIS 76
On July 11, residents thought they were reliving the disaster at Notre-Dame-de-Paris. Black smoke was escaping from the spire of Rouen Cathedral.
The fire had started behind the white tarpaulin of the restoration and painting site. It was extinguished thanks to the speed of intervention and the courage of the firefighters.Very quickly, with substantial resources, in a few minutes, we arrived with around fifty firefighters.” remembers the deputy director of SDIS 76.
Following this fire, additional equipment was delivered: tarpaulins, poles, rolling boards”to evacuate objects more easily”, specifies the curator of the DRAC.
The Seine-Maritime firefighters are very involved in the “cathedral plan”. It follows the fire at Notre-Dame-de-Paris.
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© S. Callier/ France Télévisions
The intervention plan in Rouen Cathedral, “it’s a meticulous, enormous amount of planning, it’s prepared, and it’s practiced” concludes the chief of staff of the prefect, representative of the State during the exercise, Clément Vivès.
The fire drill of October 21 will be analyzed in detail. It had an exceptional character but the SDIS 76 firefighters carry out two exercises each month at Rouen Cathedral.
