Six months after the fire, the colossal site of Notre-Dame de Paris

By Jean-Jacques Larrochelle Posted today at 03:15, updated at 05:56

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The Minister of Culture and Communication, Franck Riester, presented Tuesday, October 15 in his department, rue de Valois, in Paris, a six-month report of the fire that occurred in Notre-Dame on Monday, April 15. During the night, the flames destroyed the wooden frame, part of which dates back to medieval times, as well as the spire built by the architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc in the middle of the 19th century.^e century. The latter, collapsing, pierced the vault in two places. As long as it is not consolidated and the scaffold removed, Notre-Dame "Is not totally saved"recalled the minister.

The site, to allow the study and the resolution of the problems caused by the conjunction of the fire and the water poured by the firefighters, announces colossal. It is complicated, moreover, because of an important presence of lead in front of which the necessary dispositions to take slow the rhythm of work.

The mobilization was immediately related to "A marathon that started with a sprint", to use the words of the prefect of the Ile-de-France region, Michel Cadot, quoted by Franck Riester during his speech.

Thirty-nine companies and some 80 companions may be present on the site. Thanks to the use of laser meters, sensors and fissurometers, the structures of the cathedral and the scaffolding (which was supposed to make it possible to carry out work on the arrow) are the subject of a diligent surveillance.

In addition, 80% of the debris (metal, wood or stone) projected on the ground was taken using robots before being recovered by the scientific police, in search of clues about the origin of the fire, then by the Research Laboratory of Historical Monuments (LRMH). Safeguarding measures have also been initiated, primarily on the elements likely to be detached from the body of the building or to stop any further deterioration.

The first interventions concerned mainly the consolidation of the western gables as well as those to the north and south of the transept (here decorated with rosettes), the covering of the high vaults, the frettage (strapping) of the chimeras, on the other side, and two pillars to inside the nave. On July 25, two blocks of stone fell on the nets stretched under the nave. "The shaking of the parts adjacent to the collapsed parts and the effect of fire pose a threat to the actual stability of the vault"indicates, in a document published on October 14, the prefecture of the Ile-de-France region.