Notre Dame is burning
Apr 16, 2019, 5:39 am
#46
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Apr 16, 2019, 6:09 am
#47
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Apr 16, 2019, 6:20 am
#48
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Apr 16, 2019, 7:27 am
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Apr 16, 2019, 8:20 am
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Interesting tweet series about how they've been preparing for such a horrific accident
https://twitter.com/_theek_/status/1117895531563372544
https://twitter.com/_theek_/status/1117895531563372544
Apr 16, 2019, 11:25 am
#53
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Interesting tweet series about how they've been preparing for such a horrific accident
https://twitter.com/_theek_/status/1117895531563372544
https://twitter.com/_theek_/status/1117895531563372544
Apr 16, 2019, 11:51 am
#54
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How close can people (tourists, etc.) get to the remains of the cathedral now? I assume that the entire island was never closed off or evacuated, although I understand that this was considered.
BTW, the way I remember the location is that the back of the cathedral (convent, small graveyard, cloister, etc.) goes to the point of the island and would go to the water (with a street but no buildings being between cathedral "property" and the river) but when one goes toward the main entrance, there are rows of small tourist shops and restaurants on both sides, although the buildings would only be two or three stories high. So I'm thinking that fire boats could have reached some of the cathedral, but not the part near the towers and main entrance.
BTW, the way I remember the location is that the back of the cathedral (convent, small graveyard, cloister, etc.) goes to the point of the island and would go to the water (with a street but no buildings being between cathedral "property" and the river) but when one goes toward the main entrance, there are rows of small tourist shops and restaurants on both sides, although the buildings would only be two or three stories high. So I'm thinking that fire boats could have reached some of the cathedral, but not the part near the towers and main entrance.
Apr 16, 2019, 1:14 pm
#55
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Looking at photos you can get over by the Police building by Notre Dame. But more of the damage is on the back. and I am not sure how close you can get there.
Personally I think the fire fighters did a great job. From what I have read they went into dangerous situations to try to rescue artifacts and save as much as possible. Not sure that anyone else could have done better (without increasing damage by doing stupid things like massive water drops)
Apr 16, 2019, 2:22 pm
#56
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And yet there have been (even in this thread) criticism made as if the fire-fighting authorities in Paris were bumbling clowns. The fire-fighting authorities (and their ultimate management) deserve apologies from their critics complaining about the wrong thing, but the decency to apologize for wrongful claims is less common than it could and should be.
Looking at Grenfell Tower by way of example, the firefighters weren't the focus of criticism in the aftermath, but it's become quite clear that they failed on multiple counts in quite serious ways.
At this stage, I don't think it's worth commenting either way on the firefighting job at Notre Dame, other than of course to commend their bravery.
Apr 16, 2019, 3:01 pm
#57
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How close can people (tourists, etc.) get to the remains of the cathedral now? I assume that the entire island was never closed off or evacuated, although I understand that this was considered.
BTW, the way I remember the location is that the back of the cathedral (convent, small graveyard, cloister, etc.) goes to the point of the island and would go to the water (with a street but no buildings being between cathedral "property" and the river) but when one goes toward the main entrance, there are rows of small tourist shops and restaurants on both sides, although the buildings would only be two or three stories high. So I'm thinking that fire boats could have reached some of the cathedral, but not the part near the towers and main entrance.
BTW, the way I remember the location is that the back of the cathedral (convent, small graveyard, cloister, etc.) goes to the point of the island and would go to the water (with a street but no buildings being between cathedral "property" and the river) but when one goes toward the main entrance, there are rows of small tourist shops and restaurants on both sides, although the buildings would only be two or three stories high. So I'm thinking that fire boats could have reached some of the cathedral, but not the part near the towers and main entrance.
I went by it on my way to the office this morning. Access to the island is restricted - the closest open bridges were Pont au Change and Pont Saint-Michel. On the island you couldn’t get closer than that.
Best views were from the left bank, down by Shakespeare and Company.
Apr 16, 2019, 3:04 pm
#58
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I don't think we can say that they deserve apologies yet, just as we can't say whether they deserve criticism, because we don't really know whether they did a good job or not. Yes they saved the building and impressions today are that they did reasonably well in so doing, but could they have done better? I have no clue.
Looking at Grenfell Tower by way of example, the firefighters weren't the focus of criticism in the aftermath, but it's become quite clear that they failed on multiple counts in quite serious ways.
At this stage, I don't think it's worth commenting either way on the firefighting job at Notre Dame, other than of course to commend their bravery.
Looking at Grenfell Tower by way of example, the firefighters weren't the focus of criticism in the aftermath, but it's become quite clear that they failed on multiple counts in quite serious ways.
At this stage, I don't think it's worth commenting either way on the firefighting job at Notre Dame, other than of course to commend their bravery.
What will ALSO happen of course is a great deal of "Monday morning Quarterbacking" People with all the time in the world to calmly go over the smallest of details (again and again) will rant about less-than-optimal decisions made by those onsite under all the stresses of being on the spot. Ridiculous, but it happens every time.
Im with you on that on that last comment. The account of the Paris Fire Brigades Chaplain and other volunteers saving so much from the fire is quite inspiring. Given that the Paris Fire Brigade is actually part of the Army (trust the French to do things differently
) I would hope an appropriate commendation or decoration is forthcoming.
Apr 16, 2019, 3:53 pm
#59
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France 24 was saying at one point that evacuation of the island was underway. I'd assume people were given the all clear to return after the fire was contained
Apr 16, 2019, 6:36 pm
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I was just watching TV shots of a vigil that seemed to be in the plaza just out front, so I’d say “fairly close” at this point.