Young construction boss, 32, at centre of Notre Dame fire probe boasted about his firm's ability to protect historic sites

The construction boss whose firm was renovating Notre Dame before the fire broke out has previously boasted about his firm's ability to protect historic sites, MailOnline can reveal.  

Julien Le Bras declared last year: 'Our first thought is to protect the values of historical buildings, it's in our DNA.'

His company, Le Bras Freres, a small company known as the 'Cathedral Restorers', had won the £5million contract to repair the spire of the Paris landmark.  

Today craftsmen from the company were being questioned by investigators after the spire came crashing down in Monday's blaze, which caused such extensive damage that experts believe it could take decades to repair. 


Investigators believe the devastating blaze started in the roof cavity below the spire where the work, which included the use of electric tools, was being carried out. 

The blaze began at around 6.50pm but workers would reportedly have downed tools between 5pm and 5.30pm.  

Mr le Bras told reporters at the scene: 'We want more than anyone for light to be shed on the origin of this drama.'

He said his company has 12 workers involved in the refurbishment, though none were on site at the time of the fire.

He insisted that 'all the security measures were respected' and that 'workers are participating in the investigation with no hesitation.'

Various officials have suggested the fire could have been linked to the renovation work. Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said the investigation was in its early stages.  

The 32-year-old construction boss had previously heralded his firm's 'technical ability and competence' and 'pride' in restoring historic buildings.

In a film posted online, Mr Le Bras said: 'We are proud of our work on historic buildings. We have the technical ability and the competence for his work.





MailOnline