July 22, 1997 Fire breaks out at Palais de Chaillot in Paris

In the 3rd museum fire in less than 2 months, this was the largest. In the early hours of July 22, 1997 firefighters were called to the Palais de Chaillot in Paris for a report of a fire in the roof area of the museum. The museum had been under construction and was expecting to expand its offerings. The 120 firefighters that responded to this blaze fought for over 3 hours before bringing the estimated 40,000 sq ft of involved structure to a point they could manage. Reports indicate that the framing of windows and large portions of the roofing fell onto, destroying many artifacts and displays. The museum itself is located in the Trocadero square (established in the 1930s) overlooking the Seine river towards the Eiffel Tower. The fire broke out in an area of the roof that was being renovated. Two firefighters were injured slightly during the suppression efforts, neither was serious. The cause of the blaze was ruled accidental.