@raybanwomble
im not a technical fire expert, just a firefighter grunt who has had the pleasure of working in and around some very historical buildings and aware of the firefighting plans.
i don’t know if Notre Dame had any kind of fixed firefighting system, like alarm systems or sprinklers for example. I doubt it had sprinklers as accidental activation would cause just as much damage as a fire themselves. The building I know has a VESDA system (very early smoke detection) system fitted, it’s inconspicuous and very effective at detecting very small amounts of smoke – where there should be none at all.
So the alarm will warn of the presence or suspected presence of a fire. The problem comes from the design of the structure and the speed and weight of attack.
When most of these historical buildings were built they simply weren’t designed with any knowledge of fire engineering, some fantastic architectural solutions but nothing to prevent fire spread or assist firefighting operations.
Fixed firefighting solutions, sprinklers etc rely in part on the structure of the building to assist in their effectiveness.
but no one wants to retro fit those features into a great hallway etc.
Using Winchester cathedral as an example, however it quite possibly may not be of a similar build to Notre Dame as they were all doing things their way at that time.
Access for the upper roof levels relies on aerial appliances to arrive from southampton and Basingstoke, park, jack up and then reach little doors in the roof, these doors lead to little timber walkways and crawlways suspended in the ceiling void. Crawling along these allow you to get to the bell ringing room. The other option to get here is climbing up one of the many corkscrew stone staircases that in places are no wider than your shoulders (thoroughly recommend a tour of the roof if you’re ever able- fascinating)
As a fire service we simply could not get the personnel to the incident, and then to the scene of the fire before it had a chance to take hold. Once it had a foothold extinguishing the fire would be a very tough task, breathing apparatus wearers for example would struggle to use the stairwells. Which means a different tactic must be employed- ie salvage.
Knowing these things was one of the reasons I was so against the removal of vehicles and personnel from Winchester. That cathedral is now protected by 4 firefighters day and night, relying on resources being available and getting to the incident.
Makes you think.
