John mercer.

And i'm emily cassulo.

Thanks for joining us for news 12 now at 6.

The fire at the notre dame cathedral has sparked reaction across the globe, and right here in chattanooga.

Authorities in france are taking a hard look at the security and safety of the cathedral one day after a massive fire nearly destroyed it.

Monday's blaze broke out in the attic...and quickly ravaged two-thirds of the roof.

The cathedral's structure was left largely intact...but some weak points have been located in the ceilings.

Paris prosecutors say the fire was probably caused by an accident.

French teachers in the tennesse valley are reacting to the fire.

News 12's robyn estabrook joins us live in the studio with the latest.

Teachers at notre dame high school say they've take students to the cathedral numerous times.

They are saddened about what happened.

Inside notre dame high school, french teacher bonnie townsend is giving her lesson.

After yesterday's tragedy at the notre dame cathedral in paris, she thought it was important for students to learn the background.

Bonnie townsend/ french teacher notre dame "this gives me a little bit of chance to do a little bit of art history, architectural history to really understand the significance of that particular building.

It is a masterpiece."

Over the years, townsend has been to the cathedral many times, including trips with her students.

Bonnie townsend/ french teacher notre dame "sometimes when we would be there a mass would be going on and our kids would know what was going on, because the mass is universal so they got to participate in that."

Over at utc, french professor karen casebier was devastated when she heard about the fire.

She says it is hard to describe the significance of the iconic building.

Karen casebier/ utc professor french "i don't have anything to compare it to.

It is nothing.

It is nothing and it is everything.

It is part of ones daily existence if you live in paris as breathing."

She says she will miss visiting.

"it just seems strange that it is going to be closed for awhile, until they can rebuild, until they can restore.

So it just seems strange to not have that as a landscape."

Townsend says at first it was horrible seeing the destruction but now she is looking ahead.

Bonnie townsend/ french teacher notre dame "it was just nothing but sadness and today there is hope."

The united nations says it will be supporting the french government in rebuilding.

Live in the studio, robyn estabrook,