France's Rouen cathedral spire catches fire, sending black smoke into air

The spire of Rouen cathedral in northern France caught fire on Thursday, triggering a swift response from firefighters.

Eyewitness Patrick Waeselynck reported that people enjoying the weather outside "and we hear, “Fire!” and I turn around and I see the cathedral spire, the tarpaulin that was protecting the restoration work, which was burning, big flames, black smoke." He then rushed to alert police officers that the tarpaulin surrounding the spire was alight.

Rouen Archbishop, Dominique Lebrun, reassured the public that the workers involved in the renovation project, exposed to some smoke, are safe and in good condition. The cathedral has been evacuated as a precaution.

The cathedral, a masterpiece of French medieval Gothic architecture and a subject of several paintings by Claude Monet, has been undergoing renovation for several years. The extent of the damage caused by the fire is still being assessed.

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