Notre Dame Cathedral fire – a visual guide and timeline
How the devastating fire at the historic monument in the heart of Paris took hold and spread
by Jon Henley in Paris
Apr 16, 2019
4 minutes
6.20pm, Monday 15 April
An alarm sounds during mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The public prosecutor, Rémy Heitz, says later it is unclear whether it was a smoke or a heat alarm. The priest hesitates, then continues with the service, believing it may be a false alarm. But although no sign of fire was found, the 850-year-old building was evacuated as a precautionary measure. At 6.43pm, a second alarm went off: fire declared.
7.10pm
Smoke plume clearly visible from afar. Photos start circulating on social media and crowds gather on left and right banks of River Seine as police seal off Île de la Cité and
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