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Notre Dame cathedral fire: One firefighter seriously injured in Paris blaze, officials say

Cathedral’s towers could be saved, officials say

Monday 15 April 2019 22:59 BST

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Devastating moment Notre Dame cathedral spire topples over into bed of flames during huge fire

One firefighter has been seriously injured in the Notre Dame blaze, officials have said.

Emergency services have been working to contain the blaze for several hours, after the fire began at around 6.30pm.

Anne Hidalgo, Paris’ mayor, said firefighters were optimistic that they could salvage the cathedral’s iconic main towers.

Notre Dame’s spire collapsed around an hour and a half after the fire began.

Huge crowds have gathered in the city to watch firefighters attempt to extinguish the flames.

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

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1/45Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames on the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, 15 April 2019. A fire started in the late afternoon in one of the most visited monuments of the French capital.

EPA

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Firefighter douse flames billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

This general view taken from Montparnasse Tower shows flames and smoke as they billow from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on 15 April, 2019.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

People look at smoke and flames rising during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

People react as they watch flames engulf the roof of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in the French capital.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

People cry and pray as they look at flames burning the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

EPA

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Sparks and flames are seen through a destroyed stained glass window as the Notre Dame Cathedral burns.

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

A view of Notre-Dame Cathedral on fire as seen from Montmartre in the east on 15 April, 2019 in Paris, France.

Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

An onlooker uses a telescope to film the fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

A man watches the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burn, engulfed in flames, in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

The steeple of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral collapses as the cathedral is engulfed in flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

The landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral is engulfed by flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke billow and flames burn from the roof of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

People watch from a bridge as smoke billows from Notre Dame Cathedral during a fire in Paris, France

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

People watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burns in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris.

AP

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris.

AP

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

People watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke rises as people watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke billows from the Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire broke out, in Paris, France

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

A statue of Saint John is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019.

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

A statue is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

A statue of Saint John is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019

REUTERS

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter feed of @slopezserra of smoke pouring from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which is on fire

PA

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

Notre Dame burns: in pictures

Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.

AFP/Getty Images

The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the fire and believe the fire was started accidentally after a preliminary probe.

"Notre Dame is aflame," French leader Emmanuel Macron said.

"Great emotion for the whole nation. Our thoughts go out to all Catholics and for to the French people.

"Like all of my fellow citizens, I am sad to see this part of us burn tonight."

Additional reporting by agencies

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