Fire engulfs Nantes Cathedral in France, prompting an arson investigation

A fire ripped through the Nantes Cathedral in France Saturday morning, prompting an arson investigation into the cause of the blaze.

Video released by the French Federation of Firefighters showed flames engulfing the monument, sending a plume of black smoke into the sky.

#Nantes | Courage aux sapeurs-#pompiers du @SDIS44 engagés sur l’#incendie à la cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de #Nantes.
Protéger, secourir et sauver. pic.twitter.com/z8ZaigcI3s

— Pompiers de France (@PompiersFR) July 18, 2020

French President Emmanuel Macron praised firefighters at the scene whom he said took “great risk to save this gothic gem in the city of the Dukes.”

Après Notre-Dame, la cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, au cœur de Nantes, est en flammes. Soutien à nos sapeurs-pompiers qui prennent tous les risques pour sauver ce joyau gothique de la cité des Ducs.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 18, 2020

However, the roof of the cathedral appeared to be unaffected, in contrast with last year’s blaze at Notre Dame that more seriously crippled the structure.

Nantes Mayor Johanna Rolland told CNN affiliate BFM that an arson investigation is underway to determine what sparked the fire.

Construction of the cathedral finished in 1891, though a fire in 1972 led to a renovation that lasted until 2013.