In a déjà vu moment for France, a small fire broke out on Thursday in the spire of Rouen Cathedral, a medieval landmark located in northern France. This incident stirred memories of the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris back in 2019. Fortunately, authorities confirmed that the blaze at Rouen Cathedral was swiftly brought under control.

Witnesses reported seeing smoke emanating from the spire of Rouen's 12th-century Gothic masterpiece shortly after midday. Recall of the Notre Dame incident, where the spire toppled and the roof collapsed, made locals jittery. Rouen Cathedral, renowned for its asymmetrical western facade immortalized by impressionist Claude Monet's paintings, holds great sentimental value to the region.

Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol alerted the public through social media about the "beginning of a fire" on the cathedral's spire. Within 90 minutes, the source of the blaze was located approximately 120 meters (400 feet) high. Firefighters from Seine-Maritime quickly contained the fire and worked to eliminate any remaining hot spots. The risk of the flames spreading was deemed low, given the predominant presence of metal in the area.

The fire was first noticed by construction workers who immediately informed the authorities. As a precautionary measure, the cathedral was evacuated, and a security perimeter was established by regional officials. Archbishop Dominique Lebrun shared that the cathedral is expected to reopen on Friday, as no significant structural damages were reported.

The incident at Rouen Cathedral reignited memories of the Notre Dame fire, which occurred five years ago during renovations. The reconstruction effort at Notre Dame is set to conclude in December, and the cause of that fire was determined to be an accident.

French authorities remain vigilant about the preservation of their iconic religious landmarks, ensuring the necessary safety measures during renovation work to prevent any further incidents. The quick response and containment of the fire at Rouen Cathedral have demonstrated the efficiency of the firefighting teams, providing reassurance to the public and safeguarding this heritage site.