On Thursday afternoon, Parisians are invited to gather on the forecourt of the Hôtel de Ville to pay further tribute to the firefighters.
270 of the 400 Paris firefighters who responded to contain the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris – and who thereby saved the monument – were received by Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace late on Thursday morning. In the afternoon, a further tribute – this time a public one – will take place on the forecourt of the Hôtel de Ville, where Parisians are invited to attend.
In addition to the President, they will be received by several members of the government, including the Minister for the Interior, Christophe Castaner, the Minister for Culture, Franck Riester, and the Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly. Members of the national police, civil protection services and the Archdiocese of Paris have also been invited. Emmanuel Macron is expected to address the gathering, off-camera.
Around sixty firefighters remain on site at Notre-Dame to prevent the fire from reigniting, and beams have been brought in to help reinforce certain areas, whilst experts assess what is needed to make the site completely safe before reconstruction begins.
Photo: G. Dolle/Emergency Information