Notre-Dame Fire in Paris Forces City to Look at Own Landmarks

The spectacular Notre-Dame Cathedral fire which transfixed the world’s attention for the several hours it raged on April 15 has prompted the chair of the City Council’s Fire and Emergency Management Committee to call for a review of the city’s inventory of historic and culturally significant buildings.

“The city owns many cultural institutions, and the public ought to know that there’s a strategic plan in place to protect our treasured art and artifacts in the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise,” Council Member Joe Borelli wrote in a response to a query from this newspaper. “In light of the recent tragedy at Notre-Dame, this is something that has been on many of our minds, and we’ve been working on a potential hearing to discuss the city’s plan for cultural-asset protection.”