As fire raged through historic Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on Monday, Langley resident Kelsey Haskett was among the horrified witnesses.

乌鸦传媒淲ith thousands of Parisians and others I have just seen 800 years of history crumble before my eyes,乌鸦传媒� Haskett said.

Dr. Haskett, chair of the school of modern culture and languages at Trinity Western University, spends every summer teaching in Paris.

When news of the fire broke, Haskett took the Paris Metro subway to get as close as she could.

乌鸦传媒淸I] pushed my way little by little through thick crowds until I was near the front of the crowd,乌鸦传媒� Haskett said.

She described 乌鸦传媒渁n atmosphere of hushed silence with groups of people here and there singing hymns and prayers.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淪omeone read a passage from Isaiah - from today乌鸦传媒檚 mass. Numerous tourists had come for Easter - you could hear every language being spoken in hushed tones. Lining the streets all the big news outlets of the world were telling the story to their audiences.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淚 finally squeezed back out of the huge crowd watching the front of the cathedral and took a circuitous route through the Latin Quarter to see the side - where the firemen乌鸦传媒檚 hoses were no match for the fire that was still ravaging the entire wooden framework on the inside of the cathedral, below where the roof had been.乌鸦传媒�

Haskett called the sight 乌鸦传媒渙ne of the saddest things I have seen in my life, and one of the most sobering.乌鸦传媒�

READ MORE:

VIDEO:

Firefighters waged a more than 12-hour battle to extinguish the inferno that destroyed the Notre Dame spire and roof, but spared its bell towers and the Crown of Christ.

Officials said the world famous 18th century organ also appeared to have survived.

all of the back roof is gone

乌鸦传媒� lily crandall (@lilycrand)

Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire expressed乌鸦传媒渆normous relief乌鸦传媒� at the salvaging of irreplaceable pieces that were transported to a 乌鸦传媒渟ecret location乌鸦传媒� after the fire.

- with files from Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .