A wall of flame that escapes from the glass roof of the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral in Nantes this Saturday morning. Immediately, the image of Notre-Dame de Paris on fire in April 2019 comes to mind. In Nantes and throughout France, we follow the evolution of the violent fire. We fear the worst. Some pray. We regain hope by seeing the thick smoke succeeding the flames. In a few tens of minutes, the hundred firefighters dispatched on the spot finally succeeds in limiting the disaster.
Three fire starts were quickly discovered. One in height, about 30 m, at the level of the large organ which has burnt down completely. The other two on either side of the altar, 70 m away. Part of the choir organ and the cathedrals, the adjoining wooden stalls, are destroyed. "An investigation for arson has been opened," said on the spot in the morning the Nantes public prosecutor, Pierre Sennès, pointing to the "three fire starts quite distant from each other". According to him, "the criminal hypothesis" must be taken into account. "There is no conclusion to draw now," said the magistrate then.
VIDEO. Fire at Nantes cathedral: 3 fire starts identified, organ destroyed
The Nantes judicial police are responsible for the investigation. A fire expert from the technical and scientific police laboratory in Paris is expected later today. He must examine the outbursts of fire as well as the electrical installation of the Gothic building so dear to Nantes residents.
"It's not possible, it's happening again!" Like thousands of inhabitants, Marie, a retired native of the city, rushed this Saturday morning to the bedside of the cathedral. "This is my cathedral," she sighs very moved. I experienced the fire in 1972. I was so afraid of reliving that. That's why I came right away, I needed to share this emotion, "she says, a little reassured, even if the smoke continues to escape through the stained glass windows blown by the fire.
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The firefighters were alerted by passers-by around 7.45 am. "It was the fire that woke me up, there was a lot of smoke, the firefighters had trouble opening the door," says Félicie, a young girl who lives above a bank just in front of Cathedral. "It was only after I saw the flames, I was shocked, the cathedral is such an impressive monument," she adds.
"I come to look at the cathedral every morning before opening my shop, it's my ritual," says Jean-Yves Burban from Le Verdun tobacco store. This Saturday morning shortly before 7:30 am, he did not notice anything abnormal. No smell of smoke or flame. "On the other hand, I heard the chime ringing around 7:30 am, which is completely unusual: the bells only ring from 8 am to 8 pm", notes Jean-Yves who heard a few seconds after a strange noise, "like a light bulb electric burst ”, without understanding at the time. “It wasn't until the firefighters arrived 10 minutes later that I realized what was going on. "
The firefighters had to break down a door to enter the religious building. The fires were quickly contained. "We are not facing a second Notre-Dame de Paris," said General Laurent Perlay, departmental director of the fire department. And according to him, the damage has nothing to do with that of the disaster which had ravaged the same cathedral in 1972. "The roof was rebuilt with a concrete frame," he emphasizes. The absence of a wooden frame could therefore help limit the spread of the flames. "
Jean Castex: "I congratulate you on the Republic"
Inside, the smell of the fire invaded everything. A gaping, black hole replaced the large organ and its irreplaceable sculptures from the 16th century. "It is a very special feeling to enter this cathedral, yesterday so clear and today so black," breathes Gildas Salaün, deputy mayor of Nantes in charge of the city center. You don't have to be a believer to be marked by this drama. It affects everyone. "
Part of the heritage has been destroyed, such as the stained glass windows of the large glass roof. “These were the last stained glass windows that dated from the time of Anne of Brittany. An irreplaceable loss ”, regrets the elected official. Firefighters managed to shelter works of art, such as the painting of the 1972 cathedral fire.
“The security commission had passed a few weeks ago. The firefighters had been doing exercises there very recently. We were ready and we were able to escape the worst, ”says Gildas Salaün. "This is the message I want to send to the people of Nantes," said Johanna Rolland, the mayor of the city. The damage is significant but localized. It is a time of sadness and strong emotions, but I want to salute very solemnly the reactivity and the great professionalism of the firefighters. "
VIDEO. Burning of the cathedral of Nantes: Castex wants a reconstruction "as quickly as possible"
Prime Minister Jean Castex changed his program to go there this Saturday afternoon, accompanied by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, and Roselyne Bachelot, the Minister of Culture. "I congratulate you on the Republic for your unfailing commitment which made it possible for the drama not to degenerate too much," said Jean Castex to the firefighters whom he greeted at length. He also wanted to demonstrate "towards the people of Nantes and the Catholic community the solidarity of the nation" and ensure that "the State will take its full part" in the reconstruction.
"Four levels of electrical safety": "impossible" for all to fail
At this stage, the Prime Minister said he had "no specific information" on the investigation which is just starting. No trace of forced entry was found on the six doors of the building. Could scaffolding on one side of the cathedral be used as an access? The question remains unanswered for the time being.
“At the start of each fire, there is an electrical box, points out Nicolas Toussaint, the organ builder of the cathedral for 20 years, wondering about a possible fire of electrical origin. "On the large organ that had been electrified, there are four levels of electrical safety", he describes, deeming "impossible" that all fail. State services inspected the cathedral earlier this year. No electrical faults were noted. According to our information, an electric meter could however be linked to one of the three fire starts.
"Make it not a criminal act, pleads a parishioner in front of the cathedral, I would not want that it ignites the powder and that it exacerbates hatred. Today, all it takes is a spark. ” This Saturday evening, no track was privileged.
