Nantes, Notre Dame de Paris, St. Petersburg, the Mosque of Cordoba, among others.
This weekend, July 18, 2020, the fire at Nantes Cathedral reminded us of the fire that occurred just over a year ago at Notre Dame de Paris. Although the consequences have not been as devastating, these fires, which occur so frequently over time, have made us think:
Why do cathedrals burn?
Throughout history, we find numerous fires that devastate not only cathedrals but entire cities: Rome (64 AD), London (675, 1087, 1135, 1212, and, most famously, 1666), Lübeck (1157, 1251, and 1276), Boston (1872), Chicago (1871), Santander (1941).
All of these fires are large-scale fires that have brought about significant changes in the design of cities, and in many cases, even in construction materials: from wood to stone.
Far from being able to leave fires in the past, they persist in their presence, periodically erupting to remind us that the risk is present and we cannot let our guard down.
We can recall a few: the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Nantes (2020), Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (2019), the Catholic Cathedral of Sosnowiec (2014), the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in St. Petersburg (2006), the German Cathedral in Berlin (1994), the Tori Cathedral (1997), the archive of the Cathedral Chapter of Córdoba, located in the Mosque-Cathedral (2001), and the Cathedral of León (1966).
Following the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, our director, Jordi Sans, appeared in various media outlets offering his opinion on the matter. You can access some of his reflections at the following links:
- Interview with Betevé
- We will not let our history burn down. Article published by the Fire Safety Cluster.
- News published in Vilaweb.
- News published in La Vanguardia.
Our Technical Director, Manel Martín, also participated in the Fire Safety Cluster’s conference: Safety in the Event of a Fire Fires in cultural buildings: https://clusterincendis.com/jornada-incendis-edificis-culturals/
With all this, why do cathedrals burn? Well, as is almost always the case, the answer is never simple, but at the very least, we find a combination of factors:
- Very tall structures that favor the spread of fire.
- Often, at least in many European cathedrals, wooden structures on the roof. Wood that dries out over the years and, consequently, catches fire more easily.
- Combinations of decorative elements that can be fatal: paintings, fabrics, wooden altarpieces, candles, and tapers in the same space.
- Difficulties (due to budget, aesthetics, or conservation) in installing efficient extinguishing systems.
- Finally, bad faith (a factor that is difficult to control, but one that we also have to consider).