Indianapolis couple in Paris as Notre Dame cathedral burns: 'The ashes fell like tears'

They spent the day basking in splashes of Paris sunshine, enjoying a strawberry gelato outside Notre Dame, people watching as visitors streamed into the iconic cathedral Sunday. 

They woke up Monday, as they have every morning on their French excursion, to the beautiful sound of Notre Dame's bells tolling "Our Lady" just blocks from their hotel.

"Tonight, we are going to bed to the sound of sirens, the smell of smoke, and the air filled with ashes," said T.J. Banes, Indianapolis, who is in Paris with family, friends and her boyfriend David Riggs. "This is not the way we wanted to end our family vacation."

The world watched in disbelief Monday as the famed Notre Dame, a structure completed nearly 800 years ago, burst into flames and raged for hours.  

"The streets were filled with shocked locals and tourists pointing in disbelief and anguish," Riggs said of the scene as the fire blazed Monday. "The ashes fell like tears as if Our Lady was weeping in grief."

Late Monday, there was slight relief as fire officials said the structure of the cathedral had been saved after initial fear the massive blaze would gut the entire building.

"The worst has been avoided, although the battle is not yet totally won,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, who had rushed to the scene, according to USA Today. Macron pledged to rebuild the church and said a national fundraising campaign would be launched Tuesday. 

The blaze collapsed the cathedral’s spire and spread to one of its rectangular towers. But Paris fire chief Jean-Claude Gallet said the church’s main structure had been saved after firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to the northern belfry. Gallet said the emergency response had evolved into a monitoring and clean-up operation. 

'The fire is out':Paris firefighters succeed after 12-hour battle to extinguish Notre Dame Cathedral blaze

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The damage, however, was extensive. "Two-thirds of the roofing has been ravaged,” and firefighters will work through the night to cool down the building, Gallet said.

The Notre Dame blaze was ironic in its timing, ravaging the cathedral during Holy Week, the most significant week of the year in the Catholic Church.

Banes, a former IndyStar reporter, said they toured the chapel during their trip and had lunch at a cafe "overlooking the amazing chapel with the trees in bloom all around and crowds waiting in line to tour this amazing structure."

To see the flames billowing from blocks away and the shock on the faces of the people was crushing, she said.

While the fire was under control by Monday evening, she said the city was on high alert with police barricading surrounding streets and some Metro stations shut down. 

"We are devastated," Banes said, "to see it in ruins."

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via e-mail: dbenbow@indystar.com.