Updated on 19/11/2024
On Wednesday November 20, 2024, a fire safety exercise will take place at the Saint-Louis Cathedral in Versailles. This operation, organized as part of the national “Cathedral Security” plan, will mobilize emergency services and heritage stakeholders.
An exercise to strengthen everyone’s safety
Saint-Louis Cathedral, classified as a historic monument and welcoming up to 1,690 visitors, will be the scene of a life-size simulation. This exercise aims to test and improve fire prevention systems, the evacuation of people and the safeguarding of cultural property.
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., unusual movements of intervention vehicles and emergency personnel may be observed around the cathedral. These measures are part of a proactive approach to guarantee the safety of visitors and the building.
Why this exercise?
After the Notre-Dame de Paris fire in 2019, a national action plan was deployed to secure French cathedrals. In Versailles, Saint-Louis Cathedral has benefited from major modernization work, including the installation of automatic fire extinguishers, Vigik access for firefighters, and improvements to smoke extraction systems.
This simulation will also make it possible to assess the coordination between the emergency services, cathedral managers and heritage experts.
What you need to know for Wednesday, November 20
– Exercise times : From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
– Impact for local residents and visitors : The perimeter around the cathedral will remain accessible, but emergency vehicles will be temporarily parked on site.
– Visible smoke release : During the exercise, smoke will be visible from the roof of the cathedral. This phenomenon, fully controlled, is part of the simulated scenarios to test smoke evacuation systems.
– Message important : This is an exercise. No real danger threatens the cathedral or its surroundings.
A State commitment to heritage
By implementing this exercise, the State and its partners reiterate their commitment to the preservation and security of historic monuments. This exercise constitutes an opportunity to raise awareness among residents and test the systems necessary to protect this heritage gem.
