After an over 12-hour battle to douse an inferno engulfing Paris’ iconic Notre Dame cathedral, firefighters Tuesday declared success. The blaze entirely claimed its spire and roof but spared its bell towers.

Paris firefighters’ spokesperson Gabriel Plus told the Associated Press that “the entire fire is out”.

What was left after the blaze was a soot black shell of the monument immortalised in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. The cathedral had survived almost 900 years of tumultuous French history but was decimated amid renovation works at the start of Catholic Easter week.

In an interview with AP, Junior Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, “The task is – now the risk of fire has been put aside – about the building, how the structure will resist.”

One of the city’s five senior vicars, Philippe Marsset, told AP: “If God intervened (in the blaze) it was in the courage of the firefighters.”

“Notre Dame was destroyed but the soul of France was not,” Michel Aupetit, archbishop of Paris was quoted as saying by AP.

A massive blaze broke out at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris on Monday that quickly consume its spire and roof. Scores of tourists and Parisians had watched in horror from nearby streets as flames engulfed the building and officials tried to save as much as they could of the cathedral’s countless treasures, built up over centuries.

The blaze devastated two-thirds of the roof of the 850-year-old UNESCO world heritage landmark, whose spectacular Gothic spire collapsed as orange flames and clouds of grey smoke billowed into the evening sky even as the disaster that sent shockwaves through France and the world.

What was the source of fire?

Experts and investigators believe that the fire occurred during renovation work to overhaul the spire that had suffered damages inflicted by weather and pollution. Investigators are treating the case as an “involuntary fire”, not arson.

Firefighters blamed the renovation work for the fire. In the incident, one firefighter sustained injuries while dousing the blaze which at one point threatened to bring down one of the two monumental towers on the western facade of the cathedral that is visited by more than 12 million tourists each year.

As a saving grace, Paris’ fire brigade chief Jean-Claude Gallet had declared that “we can consider that the main structure of Notre-Dame has been saved and preserved,” as well as the two bell towers. However, Culture Minister Riester sent out a warning that the structure remained unstable.

The Holy Crown of Thorns and a sacred tunic worn by 13th-century French king Louis, two irreplaceable artifacts, had been rescued along with the church’s main crucifix, and placed with others at the Paris town hall.

Firefighters who entered the burning cathedral saved many of its treasures, although some paintings remained inside and risked smoke and water damage.

Monday’s fire sparked an outpouring of grief for the Parisian landmark. US President Donald Trump called the cathedral “one of the great treasures of the world.” Pope Francis, Japan’s Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen and Norway’s Erna Solberg all expressed their sadness.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri expressed sadness over the fire he described as a “heritage and humanitarian disaster.” The Obamas were among people sharing memories of past visits to the cathedral. Former President Barack Obama posted an old photo of himself, his wife Michelle and their two daughters lighting candles there and expressed his grief. Michelle Obama tweeted, “The majesty of Notre Dame – the history, artistry, and spirituality – took our breath away, lifting us to a higher understanding of who we are and who we can be.”

French president Emmanuel Macron said he would seek help from the “greatest talents” in the world to rebuild Notre Dame, and many governments said they were considering contributions to what would be a significant architectural undertaking.

Russian President Putin said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website that the tragedy “struck a chord in the hearts of Russians.” He called Notre Dame a “priceless treasure of Christian and world culture” and said Russia is ready to send the “best specialists” to help rebuild it.

French tycoon Bernard Arnault and his luxury goods group LVMH have pledged 200 million euros ($226 million) for the reconstruction of Notre Dame, following a reported 100 million-euro donation from another French billionaire, Francois Pinault.

A statement Tuesday from LVMH said the luxury goods group and the Arnault family would make the donation to a rebuilding fund for the cathedral, which was consumed by flames Monday evening.

LVMH called the cathedral a “symbol of France, its heritage and its unity.”

The European Parliament in Strasbourg declared that the damage to Paris’s Notre Dame cathedral is blow to all Europe and all Europe will contribute to its rebuilding.

Promising ‘solidarity’, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told lawmakers: “Europe has been wounded. France has been wounded. Paris has been wounded.”

“We are all a little bereaved,” said Juncker. “Yesterday was a terrible day for all those who love France and who love Paris.

Pope Francis expressed shock and sadness at the incident and said he is offering prayers “for all those who are trying to cope with this dramatic situation”, adding that the cathedral is “a symbol of Christianity in France and in the world.”

The cathedral plays a central role in Frenchs society and has figured as a central character through the ups and downs of French history since construction began in mid-12th century. During the French Revolution in the 18th century, it was vandalised and plundered but would go on to feature as a central character in a Victor Hugo novel published in 1831, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” which is credited with helping save it.

It survived the devastation of two global conflicts in the 20th century and famously rang its bells on August 24, 1944, the day of the Liberation of Paris from German occupation at the end of the World War II.

The 12th-century church is home to relics, stained glass and other works of art of incalculable value, and is a leading tourist attraction. Its organ dates to the 1730s and was constructed by Francois Thierry.</s>PARIS (AP) — The Latest on the fire that swept through Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral:

The chief architect of Cologne cathedral says it could take decades to repair the damage caused to the Notre Dame cathedral by a massive fire.

Peter Fuessenich, who oversees all construction work for the Gothic cathedral in the German city, told broadcaster RTL on Tuesday that “it will certainly take years, perhaps even decades, until the last damage caused by this terrible fire will be completely repaired.”

Cologne cathedral was heavily damaged during World War II and work to repair it is still ongoing more than 70 years later.

Fuessenich called the fire in Paris “a tragedy with a European dimension” as many churches and cathedrals across the continent were inspired by buildings in France. He said that “when the last stone was set in Notre-Dame, the first one was laid here in Cologne, and in this respect it affects us all very much.”

According to Fuessenich, the timbered roof of Cologne cathedral’s was replaced with an iron frame during the 19th century, meaning a fire there would be less devastating.

A representative of one of the five companies which had been hired to work on renovations to the Notre Dame cathedral’s roof says “we want more than anyone for light to be shed on the origin of this drama.”

Julien le Bras’ company has 12 workers involved in the refurbishment, though none were on site at the time of the fire.

Le Bras insisted that “all the security measures were respected,” and “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 is in its early stages and is focusing on hearings while the site is being secured.

Queen Elizabeth II has sent a message of sympathy to French President Emmanuel Macron after a fire ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

The British monarch says she was “deeply saddened” to see the cathedral ablaze, and expressed “sincere admiration to the emergency services who have risked their lives to try to save this important national monument.”

British politicians and religious leaders have also sent messages of goodwill and offers of help in rebuilding the medieval building.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England, tweeted an image of the fire-damaged cathedral with a passage from the Bible: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”’

The Vatican’s culture minister has offered words of hope to France following the devastating fire at Notre Dame, saying the cathedral is a “living creature” that has been reborn before and will continue to be the “beating heart” of France.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi opened a Vatican press conference with a personal reflection on the cathedral. He noted it was a place of encounter for both believers and nonbelievers drawn to its beauty and in some cases, such as the 19th century French poet Paul Claudel, were converted to the Catholic faith as a result.

Ravasi, whose office oversees the patrimony of the Catholic Church worldwide, said he was moved by the scenes of faithful and tourists alike weeping as Notre Dame went up in flames.

He suggested that the Vatican, particularly its art experts at the Vatican Museums, could play a possible role in the rebuilding given their expertise.

The Paris prosecutor says there’s no evidence of arson in the Notre Dame fire and that they’re working on the assumption that the blaze was an accident.

Remy Heitz says the investigation will be “long and complex.”

Speaking Tuesday, after the blaze was put out, he said 50 investigators are working on the probe. He says they will be interviewing workers from five companies that had been hired to work on renovations to the cathedral’s roof, which was being repaired before the fire and which is where the flames first broke out.</s>Like much of the world, I watched Notre Dame cathedral burn yesterday. And like so many others, I watched in shock and sorrow.

I'm used to following the news as it unfolds. You try to keep your emotions in check and cover events as objectively as you can. I must confess to getting emotionally involved as I watched the flames engulf a church that I had visited many times over the last 50 years.

My first reaction was shock. I had heard the initial reports of smoke drifting over Paris. But the first video of the flames was a real emotional punch. It was a blaze, a blaze that was clearly going to destroy the interior, made from tinder-dry wood, hundreds of years old.

And when the spire collapsed, you knew it was the end. It was a conflagration, shocking to see because it was so vivid. The video so horribly compelling. I couldn't look away.

Nor could the Parisians who poured out by the tens of thousands to see this dreadful sight. I heard some in the crowd singing "Ave Maria." I saw tears in many an eye. Paris had lost something central to its character, central to its history. Notre Dame is on an island in the middle of the River Seine, in the middle of Paris. Its spire was as iconic as the Eiffel Tower. And it’s gone. As Shep Smith memorably said during his coverage, Paris has been "disfigured."

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I'm sure that in the future, there will be finger pointing. There will be a blame game. There will be political and financial repercussions. That’s in the future.

But in the here and now, the day after, there is the sad awakening to a tragic loss. Paris has taken a blow to its heart. And those of us who knew Notre Dame are keenly aware that we've all lost something that cannot be replaced.</s>Notre-Dame altar cross a symbol of hope after 'terrible' blaze breaks out at 12th century cathedral

Notre-Dame altar cross a symbol of hope after 'terrible' blaze breaks out at 12th century cathedral

Notre-Dame has been saved from total destruction after a blaze ripped through the cathedral, French fire services have said.

Flames broke out at the 12th century historic building on Monday evening, quickly devastating the spire and roof and sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.

One firefighter has been seriously injured and local media say police are treating the blaze as an accident.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "so sad tonight to see this part of all of us burn" and declared a national emergency.

Speaking from the scene in Paris, he expressed sympathy with Catholics "around the world" following the "terrible tragedy" but added the worst had been avoided.

He vowed to launch an international fundraising campaign for the cathedral so the world could rebuild Notre-Dame together.

France's interior minister originally warned the 400 firefighters scrambled may not be able to save the cathedral.

But a junior minister from the department later said they were more optimistic the cathedral could be spared, with up to four more hours needed to contain the blaze.

A French firefighter official confirmed Notre-Dame's structure and two towers had been saved from total destruction.

Prime Minister Theresa May said her "thoughts are with the people of France tonight and with the emergency services who are fighting the terrible blaze".

Video filmed by witnesses showed the moment the historic landmark's steeple was consumed by flames before toppling over.

Hours later the area where the spire had once been was still burning with sparks falling from the cathedral's vaulted ceiling.

One described people "howling and gasping" as they watched the destruction unfold.

Another witness said they saw a fire breaking out in one of the cathedral's towers.

"Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame," a Notre-Dame spokesman told local media.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo urged the public to "respect the security perimeter" around the cathedral while firefighters tackled the "terrible" blaze, and added that the areas close to the scene were evacuated.

The city's deputy mayor also said Notre-Dame had suffered "colossal damages" and emergency services were trying to salvage the art and other priceless pieces stored inside it.

A firefighter at the scene confirmed all efforts were being put into saving artwork at the back of the cathedral and stopping the northern tower from collapsing.

Its priceless treasures include the crown of thorns - a Catholic relic which is only occasionally displayed.

Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into the fire. They have ruled out arson and possible terror-related motives and instead think the blaze was started by accident.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was thinking of his French counterpart.

"Heartbreaking for the millions who love this great cathedral and great city across the world. Wishing you all the best in tackling the blaze and its consequences," he wrote on Twitter.

UNESCO's director Audrey Azoulay said there was "huge emotion" and the organisation "stands alongside France to help safeguard and rebuild this inestimable piece of our heritage".

Former US president Barack Obama also wrote on Twitter: "Notre Dame is one of the world's great treasures, and we're thinking of the people of France in your time of grief. It's in our nature to mourn when we see history lost - but it's also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can."

The Vatican, the head of the Catholic Church, said it was praying for French firefighters.

And the Archbishop of Paris called on all priests in the city to ring their church's bells as a gesture to Notre-Dame.

The cathedral dates back over 800 years and is famous for featuring in Victor Hugo's classic novel the Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

It was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding, while bronze statues were removed last week for works.

The attraction is visited by millions of tourists every year and translates in English as "Our Lady".

Its first stone was laid in 1163 in the reign of Louis VII, as the medieval city of Paris was growing in population and

importance, becoming the political and economic centre of the kingdom of France.

Construction continued for much of the next century, with major restoration and additions made in the 17th and 18th

century.

The 387 steps up to the towers take visitors past the gallery of chimeras, mythical creatures typically composed of more than one animal.</s>The main structure of Notre-Dame cathedral in central Paris has been saved after hours of fire-fighting to put out a devastating blaze, the city's top fire official said late Monday. However, the spire of Paris’ landmark structure in central Paris collapsed as the fire, which began on Monday afternoon, engulfed Notre-Dame cathedral. "We can consider that the main structure of Notre-Dame has been saved and preserved," Paris fire brigade chief Jean-Claude Gallet told reporters outside the cathedral, adding it appeared that the two main towers of the building had now been saved.</s>"We made a human chain, with our friends from the church . . . to get, as quick as possible, to get all the relics," Paris's deputy mayor for tourism and sports, Jean-Francois Martins, told CBS This Morning." Father Fournier, the Fire Department Chaplain who saved the Blessed Sacrament and Crown of Thorns from the Notre Dame Cathedral fire. Among the items they salvaged, said French Culture Minister Franck Riester, was the crown of thorns followers believe was worn by Jesus before his crucifixion and a tunic once donned by Saint Louis in the 13th century - while Notre-Dame was being built. Fornier was previously a military chaplain who served in Afghanistan. In 2015 he comforted victims of the Bataclan theater terror attack. Both of those items are now in safekeeping at Paris city hall nearby, and would ultimately join a convoy others soon to be taken to the Louvre Museum, Riester announced.

Etienne Loraillère, the editor of France's KTO Catholic television network, said the chaplain Fournier has a key role in saving the crown of thorns and other items. Fornier was previously a military chaplain who served in Afghanistan, and in 2015 comforted victims of the terrorist attack on the Bataclan theater in Paris after attacks across the city that claimed 130 lives. Sophie Grange, a spokesman for the Louvre Museum, said that it was not yet clear how many objects the Louvre would be receiving or how long they would stay. Other objects, however, were undeniably lost in the fire. These include fragments of the remains of Saint Genevieve and Saint Denis, portions of which were installed in 1935 in architect Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc's 19th-century spire, which collapsed at the height of Monday's blaze. Debris inside Notre Dame cathedral as investigators begin probe into the cause.

Historians emphasised that the cathedral itself was an emblem - and even a crucible - for a certain architectural style and the advancements that came with it. Notre-Dame was perhaps the iconic gothic aspiration, said Samantha Herrick, a historian of medieval France. "A lot of features of this church, while not unique, were new at the time," she said. "Stained glass was new, flying buttresses were new, Gothic architecture itself was new. This was a site of innovation." For the moment, the most pressing question is the state of the cathedral's sprawling stained glass masterpieces - and particularly the three massive, multicoloured rose windows originally installed in the 13th century and heavily restored 600 years later. Despite these subsequent restorations, the windows still contain some of their original medieval elements. Images showed that the rose windows technically remained intact, but the condition of the materials was far from certain. "Clearly, they were damaged, but to what degree we don't yet know," said Karine Boulanger, an specialist in stained glass at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Flames and smoke rise from Notre-Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris.

"We can see they are still in place, but we don't know in which state they are in, at least in a detailed manner," she said. "Even if the fire didn't come all the way down into the cathedral itself, the heat itself was very intense. And the heat will have impacted the glass, as well as the material that keeps the glass panels together." The architect Jean de Chelles designed and constructed the northern transept between 1245 and 1260. De Chelles then began the construction of the southern transept in 1258, but it was achieved by Pierre de Montreuil in the 1270. For experts, what makes the monumental rose windows installed in the course of this construction unique is that there are few examples of medieval stained glass in Paris, at least outside of Sainte-Chappelle, a jewel box of a chapel in the shadow of Notre-Dame on the Île de la Cité.

But particularly dazzling is the scale of the rose windows. The north rose, for instance, reaches more than 42 feet (12 metres) in diameter, and south rose roughly more than 62 (18 metres), taking account of its additional skylight. Herrick noted that the particular way in which portions of the cathedral collapsed were a testament to its Medieval identity, particularly vis-a-vis Notre-Dame's lead roof. "Ironically there's something ironic about that, as Medieval sources were constantly complaining about cost of keeping up lead roof," she said. "Fires were constantly happening in the period, and the things most likely to fall in that period were the roofs." Late Monday, President Emmanuel Macron called for Notre-Dame to be rebuilt. And almost immediately, some of France's wealthiest families pledged their support. Bernaud Arnault, Europe's richest man and the chief executive of the LVMH luxury conglomerate, pledged €200 million ($315 million); François Pinault, another luxury magnate, pledged €100 million. The estimated costs for renovating the cathedral are currently estimated at $180 million ($251 million).

But the donation pledges from wealthy private sources led to some criticism of the French state, which some felt should shoulder more of the burden to preserve such an important piece of national and religious cultural heritage. In the words of Olivier Gabet, the director of Paris's Musée des Arts décoratifs: "If Notre-Dame is a symbol of France, of its history, of its art, it is also the property of the state. In that sense, if we can only rejoice in the generosity of great donors, we could only be proud that the State undertakes to finance this restoration fully, in these troubled times." After the flames were put under control, a cross was still standing alone - but intact - in the chancel surrounded by charred walls.</s>LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth has sent a message to French President Emmanuel Macron to say she was deeply saddened by the fire which engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday and that her prayers were with all of France, Buckingham Palace said.

Elizabeth's oldest son Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, said he too was "utterly heartbroken" to learn of the fire.

In a mark of solidarity with France, Prime Minister Theresa May said the bells at Westminster Abbey would toll at 1643 GMT on Tuesday to mark the moment the fire began.

"Prince Philip and I have been deeply saddened to see the images of the fire which has engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral," Elizabeth's message said.

"I extend my sincere admiration to the emergency services who have risked their lives to try to save this important national monument. My thoughts and prayers are with those who worship at the Cathedral and all of France at this difficult time."

Charles, who has expressed strong feelings about protecting traditional architecture, said in a message to Macron: "I realize only too well what a truly special significance the cathedral holds at the heart of your nation; but also for us all outside France it represents one of the greatest architectural achievements of Western Civilization."

He added: "It is a treasure for all mankind and, as such, to witness its destruction in this most dreadful conflagration is a shattering tragedy, the unbearable pain of which we all share."

Prime Minister May said she had told Macron that Britain stood ready to support France in any way it could with rebuilding.

"President Macron has pledged to rebuild the cathedral and I have conveyed to him that the UK will support this endeavour however we can," she said in a statement. (Reporting by Michael Holden and Kate Holton; editing by Stephen Addison)</s>Hundreds of people have gathered near Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for another prayer vigil.

A crowd carrying candles and singing religious songs marched from the Church of Saint-Sulpice and grew on the way to a Left Bank plaza that faces Notre Dame.

The Saint-Suplice church, built in the 17th century and important to French Catholicism, caught on fire last month but had nowhere near as much damage as the older cathedral.

At the plaza by Notre Dame on Tuesday night, vigil participants sat around a statue of the Virgin Mary while listening to a small string orchestra and doing more singing.

Organizers said in a statement they want to show their attachment to Notre Dame.</s>SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The president of the University of Notre Dame says the school will donate $100,000 toward the renovation of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral following a devastating fire.

The Rev. John Jenkins announced the donation Tuesday, a day after the fire destroyed the cathedral's spire and roof.

Jenkins says the bells of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the university's campus in South Bend, Indiana, will toll 50 times Tuesday evening to represent the 50 Hail Marys of the rosary and to mark the start of the cathedral's rebuilding.

Jenkins says the cathedral's "exquisite Gothic architecture has for centuries raised hearts and minds to God. We join in prayer with the faithful of the cathedral and all of France as they begin the work of rebuilding."</s>Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PARIS (AP) – The Latest on a fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (all times local):

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral and says he is seeking international help to restore the Paris landmark.

Macron said after the French capital’s fire chief announced the emergency response had changed into a monitoring and mop-up operation, “The worst has been avoided although the battle is not yet totally won.”

Macron said a national fundraising campaign to restore Notre Dame would be launched Tuesday and he called on the world’s “greatest talents” to help.

The French leader credited the “courage” and “great professionalism” of firefighters with sparing Notre Dame’s facade and two landmark towers from being destroyed.

The Paris prosecutors’ office says investigators are treating the blaze that destroyed part of Notre Dame as an accident for now.

The prosecutors’ office said late Monday they have ruled out arson in Monday’s fire, including possible terror-related motives for starting the blaze.

Prosecutors say Paris police will conduct an investigation into “involuntary destruction caused by fire.”

A French official and the Paris fire chief say they think Notre Dame Cathedral’s landmark rectangular towers have been saved from the fire that caused horrific damage.

Junior Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said late Monday that authorities remain “prudent” but are “much more optimistic” than earlier in the night.

Paris fire commander Jean-Claude Gallet said a major accomplishment of hundreds of firefighters was stopping the flames from spreading to the north tower belfry.

Gallet says two-thirds of Notre Dame’s roofing “has been ravaged.” He says one firefighter was injured.

He says fire crews will keep working overnight to cool down the structure.

An official from the French Interior Ministry says 400 firefighters are at the scene of the fire but might they not be able to save Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Laurent Nunez, speaking to reporters at the scene, says the devastating fire is not limited yet to a certain area and might continue to expand. He says cause of fire at the cathedral is unknown.

A group of Americans from Maine had just finished visiting Notre Dame Cathedral and were in a nearby park when they heard it was on fire.

Freeport resident Lucy Soule, 22, said it was “weird” having been in the church right before this happened. “Now you can smell it burning.”

Soule and her father, Win Soule, 58, and Libby Heselton, 53, are on a weeklong trip to Paris where they planned to “see all the sights” and had just finished their visit to Notre Dame. They had been in the cathedral at 5:30 p.m., about an hour before the fire.

Win told The Associated Press “Now I feel sorry for the people tomorrow. They won’t be able to see it.”

He says “it’s incredible. I’m not religious, but this is clearly very important to a lot of people.”

The fire chief in Paris says it’s unclear if city firefighters will be able to keep a fire at Notre Dame from spreading and causing more destruction.

Fire Chief Jean-Claude Gallet said outside the iconic cathedral as his crews battled the blaze from both the exterior and interior: “We are not sure we are capable of stopping the spreading” to Notre Dame’s second tower and belfry.

Gallet said: “If it collapses, you can imagine how important the damage will be.”

Flames already have reached one of Notre Dame’s towers and brought down the church spire that extended 96-meters-high (315-feet.)

The Vatican has issued a statement about the “terrible fire” that has “devastated” Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The Vatican said: “The Holy See has seen with shock and sadness the news of the terrible fire that has devastated the Cathedral of Notre Dame, symbol of Christianity in France and in the world.”

The statement says the Vatican is praying for firefighters “and those who are doing everything possible to confront this dramatic situation” on Monday.

It also expressed “our closeness to French Catholics and the population of Paris, and we assure our prayers for firefighters

French President Emmanuel Macron is treating the fire gutting Notre Dame Cathedral as a national emergency.

Macron reached the landmark cathedral on Monday evening and went straight into meetings at the nearby Paris police headquarters.

France’s civil security agency says “all means” except for water-dropping aircraft were deployed to tackle the blaze.

The defense agency said those were unsuitable for fires like the one at Notre Dame because dumping water on the building could cause the whole structure to collapse.

The mammoth fire that destroyed the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral has spread to one of the church’s landmark rectangular towers.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene of Monday’s fire in Paris watched the flames blazing behind an oblong stained-glass window in the tower.

Paris police say fighters are inside the cathedral working to put the flames out while others work from the exterior. Red smoke is pouring out of the cathedral.

A Notre Dame spokesman said earlier that the church’s entire wooden interior was in flames.

French writer and historian Camille Pascal says a massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral has caused “the destruction of invaluable heritage” and “we can be only horrified by what we see.”

Pascal told French broadcaster BFMTV: “It’s been 800 years that the Cathedral watches over Paris” and its bells pealed for both “happy and unfortunate events.”

He recalled that Notre Dame’s bells sounded a death knell after the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris.

Authorities are investigating if renovation work on the cathedral’s fire was a factor in starting or spreading the fire.

On Thursday, 16 religious statues were removed from the peak for the first time in over a century to be taken for cleaning and therefore escaped the blaze.

Statement from Archbishop Alexander Sample, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon:

Our prayers are with the people of Paris as the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is burning. Our beautiful churches and Cathedrals point to the glory of our God and His creation. As we enter this most Holy Week of the year in preparation of Easter, we rest in the peace of the Resurrection and know Christ will console us in our most tragic times.

French President Emmanuel Macron says the fire consuming Notre Dame Cathedral is taking part of everyone in France with it.

Macron tweeted after the blaze broke out in the cathedral’s spire on Monday he was sad to see “a part of us being on fire.”

He extended “thoughts for all the Catholics and all the French.”

His administration says Macron is heading to Notre Dame.

The deputy mayor of Paris says Notre Dame Cathedral has suffered “colossal damages” from a fire that started in the spire and caused it to collapse.

Speaking to BFMTV, Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said first responders now trying to salvage the art and other priceless pieces stored in the cathedral.

A cathedral spokesman has said the entire wooden interior of the Notre Dame is burning and likely to be destroyed.

U.S. President Donald Trump has tweeted about the fire engulfing Paris’ iconic Notre Dame Cathedral.

Trump wrote on Twitter after the fire broke out Monday: “So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris” and made suggestions for how first responders should tackle it.

He said: “Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out,” adding: “Must act quickly!”

Firefighters were trying to contain the fire when the cathedral’s spire collapsed. Authorities say the wooden interior now is burning.

The soaring spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has collapsed in flames, and a church spokesman says the entire wooden interior of the 12th century landmark is burning and likely to be destroyed.

A massive fire engulfed the roof of the cathedral in the heart of the French capital on Monday afternoon as Parisians watched in horror.

Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media: “Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame.”

The cathedral is home to incalculable works of art and is one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions.

The cause of the blaze isn’t yet known, but scaffolding could be seen on the roof of the burning structure. The spire was undergoing renovation.

Police in Paris say the cause of the massive fire enveloping the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral isn’t yet known.

The French capital’s police department said no deaths have been reported from Monday’s fire. The police department didn’t say anything about injuries.

The peak of the 12th century cathedral is undergoing a 6 million-euro ($6.8 million) renovation project.

French media quoted the Paris fire brigade saying the fire is “potentially linked” to the renovation work.

Located on the Ile de la Cite in the center of Paris, the Gothic cathedral is among the most famous from the Middle Ages and was built on the ruins of two earlier churches.

French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed a televised speech to the nation because of a massive fire enveloping the top of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Flames are shooting out of the roof behind the nave of the 12th cathedral, one of the world’s most visited landmarks.

The sight stopped pedestrians in their tracks along the Seine River, which passes under the cathedral.

Authorities said the fire could be linked to renovation work. It’s unclear if anyone has been hurt in the fire.

Macron’s pre-recorded speech was set to be aired later Monday on French TV. Macron was expected to lay out his plan to address the citizen complaints that gave rise to the yellow vest protests that have rocked France since November.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says firefighters are trying to contain a “terrible fire” at the city’s Notre Cathedral.

An AP reporter at the scene of Monday’s fire says the roof at the back of the cathedral, behind the nave, is in flames and yellow-brown smoke and ash fill the sky.

Hidalgo urged residents of the French capital to stay away from the security perimeter around the Gothic-style church. The mayor says city officials are in touch with Roman Catholic diocese in Paris.

Firefighters are battling a massive blaze at the French capital’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral.

Flames and black smoke were seen shooting from the base of the medieval church’s spire on Monday.

The peak of the church is undergoing a 6 million-euro ($6.8 million) renovation project.

French media quoted the Paris fire brigade saying the fire is “potentially linked” to the renovation work.
A fire breaks out at the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris, resulting in the collapse of its roof and spire and considerable damage to the building's interior.