What Caused The Notre Dame Fire? Investigation Finds Blaze Was Accident, Rules Out Arson

After Monday’s horrific fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, investigators stated they were working with the assumption that the blaze began “involuntarily,” thus ruling out arson as its cause.

French newspaper Le Monde reported the Paris prosecutor’s office had launched a probe into “involuntary destruction by fire,” which excludes any “a priori criminal motive.” The top spire of the cathedral collapsed on Monday amid the blaze, which reportedly started in the attic.

According to investigators, the blaze started just before 7 p.m. local time. Notre Dame had undergone renovations last summer: the cathedral’s roof — which had initially been constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries — had been removed.

Firefighters quickly rushed to put out as many of the flame as possible on Monday, as access to Notre Dame and the surrounding area was closed to the public.

INSIDE NOTRE DAME: Footage shows smoldering interior of Paris’ iconic Notre Dame cathedral.

Firefighters this morning declared success in their battle to extinguish the flames that engulfed the building. https://t.co/vrz8KstBE1 pic.twitter.com/mv7PGg6Jsv

— ABC News (@ABC) April 16, 2019

“It will be a long, complex investigation, which will combine police work with technical elements and expertise,” an unnamed police official told Le Monde. The official added there were no deaths or serious injuries as a result of the fire.

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Notre Dame is one of Paris’s prized landmarks. The 226-foot-high major tourist attraction is admired for its Gothic masonry and large wooden beams, among other things. French President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis were among hundreds of people to voice support for France in the wake of the fire.

Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 16, 2019

Notre-Dame is aflame. Great emotion for the whole nation. Our thoughts go out to all Catholics and to the French people. Like all of my fellow citizens, I am sad to see this part of us burn tonight. https://t.co/27CrJgJkJb

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 15, 2019

“When a fire gets that well-involved it’s very difficult to put enough water on it to cool it to bring it under control,” said U.S. Fire Administrator G. Keith Bryant.