Yeah, sprinkler systems weren't so popular in the 1200s. Same with running water, oddly enough.
The worst case scenario would have been the stone towers collapsing. The bells are extremely heavy, and hung on a wooden frame -- if this had burned, it could have destroyed the entire structure. Thankfully, the firefighters protected the towers. It looks like a lot of the most important stuff was saved. Statues were removed from the roof a week ago, saving them and lightening the load. Some art was removed during the fire. No one died. It easily could have been a much worse day.
I'm actually reminded of the day I visited St. Andrews Cathedral in Scotland. After being attacked, and allowed to fall into ruin, it's still palpably sacred ground. It's just that the roof of the church is now the sky, and the pews the stones of the Earth. Creation itself is God's altar, and it endures.
The worst case scenario would have been the stone towers collapsing. The bells are extremely heavy, and hung on a wooden frame -- if this had burned, it could have destroyed the entire structure. Thankfully, the firefighters protected the towers. It looks like a lot of the most important stuff was saved. Statues were removed from the roof a week ago, saving them and lightening the load. Some art was removed during the fire. No one died. It easily could have been a much worse day.
I'm actually reminded of the day I visited St. Andrews Cathedral in Scotland. After being attacked, and allowed to fall into ruin, it's still palpably sacred ground. It's just that the roof of the church is now the sky, and the pews the stones of the Earth. Creation itself is God's altar, and it endures.
"Kitto daijoubu da yo." - Sakura Kinomoto