Update 11: While the staggering outside damage to the historic French cathedral has yet to be assessed, it would appear that despite the massive damage to the frame and the wooden roof, the inside of the Notre Dame was miraculously spared.

NEW: First images from inside Notre Dame show smoke rising inside the Cathedral as fire continues to burn. https://t.co/8jSIOCLmhb pic.twitter.com/vWeVNEXI70 — ABC News (@ABC) April 15, 2019

MORE: First images from inside Notre Dame cathedral as devastating fire continues to burn. https://t.co/8jSIOCLmhb pic.twitter.com/OGGCThvqRY — ABC News (@ABC) April 15, 2019

The interior of the cathedral is 427 by 157 feet, with its 115-foot-high roof. Two massive early Gothic towers crown the western facade, which is divided into three stories and has its doors adorned with early Gothic carvings and surmounted by a row of figures of Old Testament kings.

Some more good news: many of the centuries-old artworks and relics from the cathedral were removed by firefighters, according to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. She wrote on Twitter she was at a loss for words “to express the pain I feel in the face of the ravaging flames. Tonight Parisians and the French mourn this symbol of our common history.”

Meanwhile, French President Macron vowed to rebuild Notre-Dame after a massive fire ravaged the 850-year-old Gothic monument and left France in shock over the extensive damage to one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks. The blaze raged for more than four hours on Monday evening before Macron declared the two bell towers and facade had been saved. Flames had engulfed the roof, snaking up the ornate spire before it collapsed as smoke billowed out into the evening skyline of the French capital. Around 500 firefighters battled the inferno.

“We will rebuild Notre-Dame because that’s what the French people want,” said Macron, who was visibly moved. “That’s what our history deserves, because that is our destiny.”

The historic church, located on one of two islands in the middle of the Seine River, had been under renovation and scaffolding had covered much of the top structure. French Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said it’s too early to say what caused the fire while Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation.

* * *

Update 10: Emmanuel Macron has arrived on scene, and is giving a speech outside the cathedral, after authorities claimed that the body of the cathedral has been 'saved and preserved'.

"It is our common history that is burning, he said."

Emmanuel Macron gives speech outside Notre Dame

https://t.co/XGqDe9w2Jb — euronews (@euronews) April 15, 2019

Meanwhile, a drawing of Quasimodo, the animated hunchback of Notre Dame from the 1996 Disney film, has gone viral as a symbol of mourning and loss after the tragedy.

A devastated Quasimodo holds his Notre Dame tightlyhttps://t.co/xsmxG700sk

Credit to: Cristina Correa Freile pic.twitter.com/s2YHh2kgZr — euronews (@euronews) April 15, 2019

And here's a look at tomorrow's front pages.

* * *

Update 9: The Vatican has released a statement on the fire at Notre Dame bemoaning the tragedy and offering prayers for French Catholics.

Le Saint-Siège a appris avec incrédulité et tristesse la nouvelle du terrible incendie qui a ravagé la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, symbole de la chrétienté, en France et dans le monde. — Alessandro Gisotti (@AGisotti) April 15, 2019

Nous exprimons notre proximité avec les catholiques français et avec la population parisienne. Nous prions pour les pompiers et pour tous ceux qui font leur possible pour faire face à cette situation dramatique. — Alessandro Gisotti (@AGisotti) April 15, 2019

* * *

Update 8: As firefighters rush to try and prevent an all-out collapse of the cathedral, the fire has consumed almost its entire roof.

Offering another silver of good news, officials told the French media that the North bell tower might be saved. Officials said they were more optimistic than earlier, and there is reason to believe both towers could probably be saved.

Des pompiers circulent sur les balcons au-dessus de la rosace, on voit leurs torches éclairer la pierre de la façade intacte. Derrière, le feu continue de tout ravager. Mais la lueur dans la tour gauche a disparu. #NOTRE_DAME — Nicolas Delesalle (@KoliaDelesalle) April 15, 2019

Meanwhile, as one Twitter account pointed out, a number of historic tragedies have unfolded on April 15...could this be a sign from the universe?

Things that have happened on April 15:



- The Titanic sank

- Lincoln died

- Boston marathon bombings

- Notre Dame burned — Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 15, 2019

As thousands gasped in horror along the banks of the Seine, keeping vigil late into the night as the iconic cathedral smoldered, some on Twitter tried to find humor in the midst of tragedy.

"In the Land of the Yellow Vests a mighty fire will topple a Lady,

Then will the Orange Man in the West lay waste to another Alliance,

and out of ignorance the Hawk will turn into a Pigeon

and ignite the Apocalypse of the Yields."



Nostradamus, Quatrain 875.



What could it mean? — Nick Givanovic (@NickGiva) April 15, 2019

Shedding more light on the cause of the fire, an expert in New York told the NYT that construction and renovation fires at old churches and synagogues aren't that common (an iconic church in NYC burned down last year under similar circumstances).

Glenn Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College in New York, said that construction work and renovations had long been a dangerous combination. "There’s a history of churches and synagogues and other houses of worship falling victim to construction fires," he said, adding that one of the reasons for the peril was the proximity of open flames on torches, sparks from welders and other hazards on scaffolding to other flammable materials.

Rebutting Trump's suggestion that France try to put out the fire by dumping water on the blaze via the air, French emergency services said such an operation could cause the whole thing to collapse.

#NotreDame @PompiersParis Le largage d'eau par avion sur ce type d'édifice pourrait en effet entraîner l'effondrement de l'intégralité de la structure.

Aux côtés des #sapeurspompiers qui font actuellement le maximum pour sauver #NotreDame. — Sécurité Civile Fr (@SecCivileFrance) April 15, 2019

Speaking with bystanders on the banks of the Siene, the NYT recorded reactions ranging from sadness to terror.

"It hurts to watch this," said Pierre-Eric Trimovillas, 32. "The cathedral is the symbol, the heart of Paris." The crowd gasped and cried in horror as the spire fell, Mr. Trimovillas said, adding, "Paris is beheaded."

Another described it as "eight centuries of history up in smoke."

IMAGE: The Coronation of Napoleon, which took place in Notre Dame, by Jacques-Louis David. pic.twitter.com/UKP8OUGmAW — The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) April 15, 2019

Christine Lagarde weighed in on twitter, saying she shared the sadness of the French people. One can't help but wonder how the destruction of Notre Dame, and the presumed hit to tourism revenues, might impact France's growth prospects.

Like so many others in the world whether French of not, I share the emotion of the Parisians and French people as the fire engulfs Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. — Christine Lagarde (@Lagarde) April 15, 2019

* * *

Update 7: Demonstrating just how ineffectual YouTube's automated systems for filtering out 'conspiratorial' content truly are, BBG reports that one of the company's algorithms accidentally flagged a live stream of the fire at Notre Dame as a "9/11 conspiracy".

A YouTube feature designed to flag hoaxes mistakenly labeled a live stream of the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire as a 9/11 conspiracy.



Read the whole story from @mhbergen here: https://t.co/7v8Z2rPsRJ pic.twitter.com/uubhKCiqqV — TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) April 15, 2019

Meanwhile, France's interior minister has Christophe Castaner is the latest official to confirm that the cathedral might be completely destroyed, as firefighters might not be able to save it.

"The next hour and a half will be decisive," a spokesman for the city’s firefighters said at 9:30 pm Paris time, according to the NYT.

They also revealed that the fire started in the attic of the cathedral.

"We’re not sure of being able to stop the spread of the fire in the north belfry," the spokesman told television interviewers, adding that the fire had started in the cathedral’s attic. "I leave you to imagine, in that case, the extent of the damage."

Firefighters are also struggling to save the northern tower of the cathedral, which is currently on fire and presently in danger of collapse.

* * *

Update 6: A priest at the cathedral has told reporters that all of the priceless artwork inside the cathedral has been saved, including the crown of thorns and that "the treasure of the cathedral" is intact.

Une bonne nouvelle : toutes les œuvres d’art ont été sauvées. Le trésor de la cathédrale est intact, la couronne d’épines, les saints sacrements. #NOTRE_DAME — Nicolas Delesalle (@KoliaDelesalle) April 15, 2019

Source : père Frédéric, prêtre depuis deux ans à ND. — Nicolas Delesalle (@KoliaDelesalle) April 15, 2019

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the building itself.

* * *

Update 5: Though police quickly assured the public that the cause of the fire was 'accidental', Paris prosecutors have reportedly opened an investigation into what started the blaze.

As 400 firefighters combat the blaze, the flames have spread to one of the two towers that adorn the facade. The blaze is expected to burn for several hours, and a church official has told reporters that they expect the cathedral to be completely destroyed.

While addressing a round table on the economy in Minnesota, Trump offered more comments on the fire, Trump said the cathedral "looks like it's burning to the ground."

Trump: Notre Dame Cathedral is a "great treasure" of the world and the fire is a "terrible sight to behold" https://t.co/afD5YumUJg pic.twitter.com/eGnBD9XSqU — Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) April 15, 2019

Macron offered his thoughts and prayers to all Catholics in a tweet.

Notre-Dame de Paris en proie aux flammes. Émotion de toute une nation. Pensée pour tous les catholiques et pour tous les Français. Comme tous nos compatriotes, je suis triste ce soir de voir brûler cette part de nous. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 15, 2019

Unesco is also closely monitoring the situation.

"Deep emotion in the face of this dramatic fire at the cathedral #NotreDame de Paris, inscribed as #WorldHeritage in 1991. @UNESCO is closely monitoring the situation and is standing by France's side to safeguard and restore this invaluable heritage." https://t.co/WsGoSym4gD — UNESCO (@UNESCO) April 15, 2019

Though officials say the fire looks like an accident, it's certainly curious that ten Catholic churches have been vandalized across France in the span of a week.

Once month ago:



10 Catholic churches across France attacked in one week https://t.co/oPpdvBzKYD — Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) April 15, 2019

With the inside probably irrepairably damaged, if not completely lost, some are sharing photos of the interior of the cathedral.

To recap, the cathedral's 15-foot lead spire has collapsed, and the roof has as well, during holy week on the Catholic calendar, which is a busy season for Paris's most popular tourist attraction.

* * *

Update 4: Though he was tweeting before the spire collapsed, this thread from a former state public safety official in the US offers some insights into the monumental task facing the Parisian firefighters as they rush to save the cathedral.

After my last tweet, I got a couple DMs asking firefighting related questions about the #NotreDameFire.



I -like most of you- are watching from a world away. But if you’re interested in some profession specific things I’d note/be concerned of, you can follow this thread. pic.twitter.com/golMnbYsDK — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

This is (most likely) what is causing the fire to "run the roof" as seen in the first picture. The fire is essentially burning unchecked.



If it started high in the building, Paris Fire may be able to save the walls, but roof is basically surrounded at this point. — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

The first issue is how old churches are built - heavy timber construction with large open spaces and very few (if any in a church like #NotreDame) fire stops.



A firestop is a passive fire protection system made up of various components and used to seal openings in buildings. pic.twitter.com/C5pOMPUa5r — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

If the fire started high on the structure, there is a chance that Paris Fire can save the walls and unimpinged areas of the Cathedral.



But the roof has basically been surrendered at this point. The peak, the lack of access and fire spread means almost certain loss. — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

In firefighting there is something called a "trenchcut" that basically opens a large roof up from peak to gutter, allowing space to stop fire spread.



Given the peak of the #cathedral roof and advanced fire conditions, this is an unlikely option in the main area of the building. pic.twitter.com/Rvo96lL1A7 — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

Even if arial waterways (think hook and ladders with prepiped hoses) could reach the roofline, it is difficult to see how they would get an angle that would get water on the fire - its just too high.



So this means you have to put firefighters inside... pic.twitter.com/YhyNZRYzBH — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

Inside is a whole other problem. The primary option is large 2.5" fire hoses.



These are heavy, difficult to maneuver and against a fire like this, largely ineffective. pic.twitter.com/5tt3yDUpSo — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

This option also means placing responders on the inside as the roof is falling down around them.



And we aren't talking shingles.



This is heavy timber construction. Often 12"x12" in old churches, perhaps bigger in a #Cathedral this old. pic.twitter.com/RwO3N1Qrjw — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

Another concern is accountability.



Life safety is always the first priority, even in historic landmarks.#NotreDame was undergoing a renovation. This means that there were more people there than normal.



Is the #Cathedral staff all out?

The construction workers?

Visitors? — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

Another concern is accountability.



Life safety is always the first priority, even in historic landmarks.#NotreDame was undergoing a renovation. This means that there were more people there than normal.



Is the #Cathedral staff all out?

The construction workers?

Visitors? — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

If unaccounted for, where were they and how many? What does a rescue task force look like? How many responders do you place in additional harms way for unconfirmed reports?



I don't have these answers at a distance, but the responders on scene are asking them and forming plans. — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

And lets pause to remember how fires actually burn.



You need oxygen, fuel, heat and a chemical chain reaction.



If you take any one of these away (cool material, remove fuel or oxygen, or interrupt the CCR) the fire will go out. pic.twitter.com/fgakKat1Mp — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

Removing the fuel is a no go. Churches have no shortage of things to burn.



The heat that a fire this size is putting off is tremendous. Little options for interrupting that.



The chemical chain reaction is off to the races. That horse left the stable in the first five minutes. — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

That leaves the oxygen.



Unfortunately, even if the roof had not burnt off, churches are nearly impossible to control ventilation in.



Their design is to be open and airy. Great for Sunday worship, terrible for managing fire spread. pic.twitter.com/08KbCViTTX — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

Finally, I'd be worried about construction materials not usually found in churches (since it was under renovation).



Things that can explode, things that don't like being hit with water, Hazardous materials that can run off / go airborne, etc. — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

Finally - especially this deep in to the fire - you have to be thinking about collapse of some or all of the structure.



The steeple and roof have to GO somewhere and its no guarantee that its straight down. pic.twitter.com/AWRFcQmYiT — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

The walls of #NotreDame are stout, but if weakened by fire and roofing timbers could come down.



Are the streets in the collapse zone cleared? Of both onlookers and responder/trucks? Any other buildings threatened?



If a wall of fire comes down what the plan to fight THAT fire? pic.twitter.com/1kgepGctXW — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

My gut (and experience) tells me that best case scenario her is something similar to Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava Fire in NYC.



At least for the main part of #NotreDame that has been affected by fire. pic.twitter.com/k0m7r2Aobp — Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) April 15, 2019

In short: Saving the cathedral might be an impossible task.

* * *

Update 3: It's looking increasingly likely that the cathedral will be burned to the ground after a church spokesman confirmed that its entire frame is on fire after the spire collapse. The government is desperately trying to save the artwork inside the cathedral.

PARIS (AP) - A church spokesman has told French media that all of Notre Dame Cathedral's frame is burning after spire collapsed. — Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) April 15, 2019

PARIS (AP) - Paris emergency services now trying to salvage the artwork stored in Notre Dame Cathedral from the huge fire. — Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) April 15, 2019

French firefighters are still putting together a plan to put out the blaze. The cathedral's location on a small island in the middle of the Seine certainly isn't helping.

Helicopters are being discussed according to French media. Fire hoses can't reach the high roof. https://t.co/g39wm5S34X — Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) April 15, 2019

This is an extremely difficult intervention for firemen. Most of the areas burning edge the Seine river so they are struggling to find places to position the water hoses. And the height of the roof makes it difficult to reach. — Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) April 15, 2019

Though the cathedral has endured a number of threats during its more than 850 year history, the damage from today's fire is unprecedented, one source claimed.

Although I like the sentiment, the Church was desacrated during the Revolution but the damage today is unprecedented. https://t.co/IstiPvNZYy — Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) April 15, 2019

The cathedral was ransacked during the French revolution, but was largely rebuilt in the 1840s. The spire that collapsed went up about 150 years ago.

* * *

Update 2: The cathedral's spire and roof have now collapsed.

La flèche de Notre-Dame vient de s'effondrer sous les exclamations horrifiées des gens #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/kfLNt7rhsZ — Wladimir Garcin-Berson (@vladogb) April 15, 2019

BREAKING VIDEO! THE SPIRE AT THE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL HAS JUST COLLAPSED.pic.twitter.com/p1zTyPNXXD — Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 15, 2019

BREAKING NEWS: THE ROOF FROM THE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL HAS ENTIRELY COLLAPSED.pic.twitter.com/4J5NgD2ftM — Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 15, 2019

Spire partially collapses during fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. Devastating. pic.twitter.com/xvi82M3XKh — Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) April 15, 2019

Getty Images from the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris: pic.twitter.com/IhrpO16rsG — Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 15, 2019

Since officials are blaming the fire on an 'accident' related to the renovations...just imagine renovating one of the world's most historic landmarks then accidentally burning it to the ground.

The neighborhood around the cathedral has been evacuated and Macron is reportedly on his way to the scene. Huge crowds have gathered around the banks of the Seine to watch in amazement as the cathedral burns.

* * *

Update: President Trump has weighed in on the blaze, urging parisian officials to act quickly to save the cathedral.

So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019

Here's a live feed of the fire.

At this point, firefighters attacking the blaze are treating it as an accident somehow related to the "massive" construction happening at the cathedral, which was being renovated. Police later confirmed that the fire was an accident linked to the renovation work. The cathedral had been undergoing a $12.5 million renovation financed by the French state, after the Catholic church in France launched an "urgent" campaign to raise funds for the renovation, because the cathedral was starting to crumble.

Cracks had started appearing in the stone at the cathedral, sparking fears that it could become unstable, according to the BBC.

If there's a silver lining, many of the historic statues were removed by crane just last night.

Meanwhile, the fact that the cathedral caught fire at the beginning of holy week, a time when catholic tourists have flocked to the city, added a layer of irony to the fire.

At this point, it looks like the cathedral's spire has been totally destroyed.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: The entire spire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France is on fire.pic.twitter.com/YpA7Im8Ri2 — Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 15, 2019

French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed a policy speech to attend to the disaster. He had been planning to address the nation to announce plans to address the concerns of the gilet jaune protest movement. Monday night but that speech has reportedly been cancelled.

A spokesman for the cathedral said the fire began around 6:30 pm local time, or around 1:30 pm ET.

* * *

It's unclear how it started or what, exactly, is going on, but the historic Notre Dame cathedral caught fire on Monday, and photos and video circulating on social media suggest that conflagration has engulfed the historic monument.

BREAKING NEWS: Huge fire reported at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.pic.twitter.com/7S0klvLkmn — Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 15, 2019

Here’s the live video of Notre Dame Cathedral on fire: https://t.co/BUeIaW7Cdj — Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 15, 2019

Photos have been circulating on social media:

The intensity of the flames coming out of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris... pic.twitter.com/JDAMCXFMk4 — Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 15, 2019

#Update: Just in - Close up Video of The iconic cathédrale Notre-Dame de #Paris church on fire. #NotreDame #France. Video Credit: @Solwii Remember this in one of the biggest Tourist hotspots in France to visit. pic.twitter.com/CORYEaagDd — Sotiri Dimpinoudis ❁‏ (@sotiridi) April 15, 2019

Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is burning and my heart is breaking. Awful.pic.twitter.com/eduijPfCJN — Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) April 15, 2019

The cause of the fire at the 856-year-old cathedral isn't yet clear - though officials said it could be linked to renovation work. Parts of the roof and the cathedral's skyline-definiing spire were alight, though the true extent of the blaze was difficult to discern. Construction on the cathedral began in 1163 and was completed in 1260. Today, it is the most visited tourist attraction in Paris, drawing 12 million visitors per year, beating out the Eiffel Tower. The cathedral is considered the finest example of French Gothic architecture.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted about the "terrible fire" and asked people to stay away: "A terrible fire is underway at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The @PompiersParis are trying to control the flames. We are mobilized on the spot in close connection with the @dioceseparis. I invite everyone to respect the security perimeter."

Un terrible incendie est en cours à la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. Les @PompiersParis sont en train de tenter de maîtriser les flammes. Nous sommes mobilisés sur place en lien étroit avec le @dioceseParis. J'invite chacune et chacun à respecter le périmètre de sécurité. pic.twitter.com/9X0tGtlgba — Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) April 15, 2019

The situation is a terrible tragedy as one of the most revered monuments in all of Catholicism looks like it could be completely destroyed, a historical tragedy that would be practically unrivaled in modern times.

We think this calls for a little levity.