Replies to post #125196 on Just Politics

[DesertDrifter]

the internal structure was wood, and that is why the walls around it are probably fragile with little support left in the areas that burned. As long as they don't get tipped over, the original stonework can likely be restored, given enough time. Bad day for a great historic structure.

I saw one report that said the first responders saw that the big open area was fucked, so they basically left the perimeter guys to shoot water but the entrance teams, because of the falling ceiling, just carried priceless artifacts out of the building as fast as they could. Good move, probably saved a lot of lives of firefighters.

[janice shell]

Someone at work asked me why the church was burning since it was made of stone. I explained that it was a wood structure to which the stone was attached which also explains the flying buttresses.

Stone wasn't "attached" to the structure. Wood roof trusses supported the roof, and the flying buttresses--which made their first appearance at Notre Dame--supported the walls.

The trusses--which mostly burned today--were above the groin vaults you saw if you walked into the church and looked up. So I suppose one question now is whether to build another wooden roof, or use more modern--and more fireproof--materials.

https://www.citylab.com/design/2019/04/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-paris-gothic-architecture-history/587191/