What happened to Notre-Dame Cathedral? 

On 15 April 2019, a huge fire broke out that caused the collapse of Notre-Dame’s iconic spire and destroyed most of the wooden roof structure.

Firefighters managed to save the main stone structure, including the two bell towers, along with many invaluable artworks, relics and historical artefacts inside the cathedral.

The blaze prompted a global outpouring of support, leading to pledges of nearly €1bn for its restoration.

How did the Notre-Dame fire start?

The cause of the fire is believed to have been an accident linked to ongoing renovation work of the cathedral’s roof. However, the exact cause has never been definitively determined. Arson was ruled out by investigators.

The fire spread extremely quickly through the cathedral’s wooden framework, consuming the spire and much of the roof before firefighters could contain it.

What can the industry learn from the Notre-Dame fire?

In 2023, plans were announced to equip Notre-Dame with a unique vaporisation fire protection system beneath the restored roof and spire, intended to automatically suppress any future outbreaks.