Three months after the fire on the spire of Rouen Cathedral, firefighters mobilized for an exercise

Same scenario as three months ago, but for one exercise only. On July 11, a fire broke out on the spire of Rouen Cathedralcausing general excitement after the previous fire at Notre-Dame de Paris in 2019. The firefighters quickly managed to put an end to it. However, we can always improve our practices and the Seine-Maritime firefighters therefore revised their ranges this Monday, October 21 with their colleagues from the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs.

Learn from previous fires

The fire of Notre-Dame a landmark in the way firefighters prepare for this type of disaster, this gave rise to “cathedral plans”, protocols put in place specifically. The fire of July 11 on the spire of Rouen Cathedral once again allowed the Seine-Maritime firefighters to improve their practices. “We have improved our procedures, in particular by making equipment available directly here, within the cathedral, to the firefighters to be able to facilitate their progress and combat the disaster more quickly,” explains Colonel Jean-Christophe Delbassée-Leflont, deputy director of SDIS 76. Another lesson from the fire on the spire during the work in July: the fire fighters added a longer dry column which will remain for the duration of the renovation to facilitate access to the summit.

Test the site’s works preservation protocol

The firefighters must intervene to preserve the building, but also the works of the cathedral. For this, it was necessary list and organize them in order of priority. The curators of the cathedral and national monuments have worked to guide the work of the firefighters, so that they know what to save first. For the exercise, large tarpaulins cover certain works. “Depending on the size, we decide to protect it on site or to evacuate them,” explains Florie Alard, deputy regional curator of national monuments, at the regional directorate of cultural affairs, “and there is the question of prioritization: according to cultural, artistic and religious criteria, we will prioritize.”

Two aspects which make the intervention of firefighters particularly difficult. “We must be able to limit the consequences of fire water running down heritage elements,” indicates Colonel Jean-Christophe Delbassée-Leflont, a difficulty which adds to the management of the fragility of a building so old that the fire can cause further damage.

Late morning exercise “went well” for the authorities present, “satisfied” with the improvements made to their heritage protection plan. An experience that should be useful to othersrepresentatives of cultural institutions from the Rouen metropolis came to attend the exercise.