For some months the northeast tower of the cathedral had been under repair and surrounded by scaffolding.
On September 19th a shell set fire to the outer roof of the cathedral, which is of lead and oak.

The fire spread to the scaffolding and from the scaffolding to the wooden beams of the portals, hundred of years old.

The abbe Chinot, young/alert, and daring, ran out upon the scaffolding and tried to cut the cords that bound it.
In other parts of the city the fire department was engaged with fire lit by the bombardment, and unaided, the flames gained upon him.
Seeing this, he called for volunteers, and, under the direction of the Archbishop of Rheims, they carried on stretchers from the burning building the wounded Germans.

The rescuing parties were not a minute too soon.

Already from the roofs molten lead, as deadly as bullets, was falling among the wounded.