Fire Ravages Historic Paris Town Hall; Bell Tower Damaged

Firefighters prevent casualties, but bell tower is at risk of collapse

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Posted Jan 27, 2025 8:07 AM CST

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Fire Ravages Historic Paris Town Hall; Bell Tower Damaged — This photo provided by the Paris Fire Brigade shows the roof and the spire of the Paris 12th district town hall burning early Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Paris. (P Millet/Paris Fire Brigade via AP)

A fire broke out early Monday morning in the town hall of Paris' 12th district, starting at 3:20am. Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez reported the incident, stating that approximately 150 firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze by morning.

The fire caused substantial damage to the bell tower of the 19th-century building, raising concerns about a "risk of collapse" in its upper section, said Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez. As a result, a security zone has been established around the site. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo praised the "exceptional intervention" of the fire department. She assured residents that "all public services for residents have been maintained and will be provided in the 11th district town hall." The town hall, constructed in 1876, is recognized as a historical structure in the city. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)