Bergen High Schoolers Were At Notre Dame Minutes Before Fire

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Two local teachers thought they smelled smoke while inside the Notre-Dame de Paris Monday, but thought nothing of it.

Minutes later, the 12th-century cathedral was ablaze.

The 31 people — 26 students and five chaperons — from Leonia High School visited Notre Dame for an hour. They took pictures and sent them back home to friends and family members. They were at a nearby restaurant when they saw people run toward the cathedral.

"We did not know how serious it was. The kids were very emotional," said Superintendent Edward Bertolini. "The church was very crowded when we were there. We were concerned people didn't get out in time."

Bertolini said the cathedral, with its wood frame, was "a tinder box."

"It was a very bad fire right away," Bertolini said.

The group stood along with hundreds of people along the Seine River and watched the fire tear through the cathedral's ceiling and spread to the spire, which a teacher saw fall.

"We only stayed there for a minute because the kids got very emotional," Bertolini said. "These kids are resilient though. They are much better today. They'll be OK."

The 11-day trip is run by the high school's French teacher and gives students a chance to immerse in and learn of the history, culture, and language of France. The students have already visited Normandy and Versailles. The group will visit Nice and Monaco before the group comes home Saturday.

Harrowing images of the fire were broadcast on all major media outlets Monday. The historic cathedral is a major tourist attraction for Americans and a pilgrimage site for American Catholics. Construction began in 1160 and was completed by 1260. It has been renovated throughout its history, including the current work and fire officials speculated may have been linked to the blaze.

Although damage to the building was catastrophic, no one died. And that is the most important part of the tragedy.

"The fact that there was no loss of life," Bertolini said, "that's what matters."

Patch staff writer Daniel Hampton contributed to this report.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com