Paris public prosecutor Rémy Heitz announced on Tuesday that firefighters were called to the world-famous cathedral at 6.20pm CET, almost half an hour before the roof caught fire.

But after an initial inspection they said they were unable to find any evidence of fire. 

After a second alarm was raised a shortly while later, firefighters attending the scene said they were unable to stop the blaze from ripping through Notre Dame’s wooden roof structure.   ADVERTISING

Mr Heitz said this evening: ‘What we know at this stage is that there was an initial alarm at 6:20 p.m., followed by a procedure to verify this but no fire as found. 

‘Then, there was a second alarm at 6:43 p.m. and at that point a fire was detected in the structure.

‘The investigation is going to be long and complex,’ he added. ‘We are in the process of interviewing witnesses.’    Video playing bottom right…Click here to expand to full page

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Inferno: The burning interior of Notre Dame cathedral during the horrific blaze in Paris on Monday evening 

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Heroes: Paris firefighters rush into the cathedral to tackle the blaze and save the medieval building from collapse 

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A robot fires water from a hose to douse the flames in the cathedral on Monday night 

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After eventually responding to the blaze, French firefighters were filmed racing into the burning Notre Dame to save the 850-year-old cathedral from destruction. 

The fearless rescue team charged into the inferno with huge flames leaping across the church and sparks tumbling from the ceiling after the roof of the Paris landmark caught fire. 

Firefighters battled for eight hours to contain the blaze which destroyed the cathedral’s roof and spire, but despite fears that the whole building could collapse the stone structure and iconic bell towers remain standing today.  

The firefighters’ actions – and their quick deployment of a robot to hose down the cathedral – meant that priceless treasures including reputed relics of the Crucifixion and 13th-century stained-glass windows were saved from the blaze. 

Today haunting new photos of Notre Dame’s interior showed debris strewn across the floor – as experts warned the damage could take decades to repair – while detectives probe the renovation work which may have led to the blaze.  

The pictures revealed that a statue of Jesus descending from the cross, positioned on the altar, was preserved among the smouldering rubble after the roof was destroyed by Monday night’s fire.

The three ‘irreplaceable’ Rose Windows, which date to the 13th century and were last night feared to have melted or exploded, were also intact. 

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Julien Le Bras, 32, declared last year: ‘Our first thought is to protect the values of historical buildings, it’s in our DNA.’

His firm, Le Bras Freres, a small company known as the ‘Cathedral Restorers’, had won the £5million (€5.8m, $6.5m) contract to renovate the spire of the Paris landmark.  ADVERTISING

Today craftsmen from the company were being questioned by investigators after the spire came crashing down in Monday’s blaze, which caused such extensive damage that experts believe it could take decades to repair.  

Investigators believe the devastating blaze started in the roof cavity below the spire where the work, which included the use of electric tools, was being carried out. 

The blaze was discovered at around 6.50pm but workers would reportedly have downed tools between 5pm and 5.30pm. 

According to investigators, an alarm went off at 6.20pm, interrupting a Mass, but no fire was found. The alarm then sounded again at 6.43pm, by which time the flames were burning out of control. 

The first daylight pictures inside the wreckage today showed the roof destroyed, the 850-year-old church exposed to the elements and the floor covered in charred debris.

However the three ‘irreplaceable’ Rose Windows, which date to the 13th century and were last night feared to have melted or exploded, are all still intact.

Other treasures, including a crown of thorns reputed to have been worn by Jesus at his crucifixion, were also rescued from the fire, which officials believe was started by accident.  Video playing bottom right…Click here to expand to full page

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The wreckage of Notre Dame is seen today with charred debris scattered across the floorafter falling 100ft from the roof

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Unscathed: Two of the cathedral’s most treasured statues appear to have survived. The 14th century Virgin of Paris, right, and the 17th century Descent from the Cross, left

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Devastation: A view from the upper balcony inside Notre Dame shows debris strewn across the floor after falling from the ceiling 

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In addition to the statues, ‘irreplaceable’ Rose Windows, which date to the 13th century and were last night feared to have melted or exploded, are all still believed to be intact.

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Left: A before and after shot of the main altar. Right: A wider shot of the Church’s nave showing the destruction caused by the fire

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The post She’s safe in our hands! Young construction boss, 32, at centre of Notre Dame fire probe boasted about his firm’s ability to protect historic sites as his company won £5million contract to repair cathedral’s spire appeared first on Daily Concord.