NORWICH – A group of Norwich High School students on a field trip in Paris are safe and were not near the Notre Dame cathedral as its roof was engulfed in flames Monday.

The students were visiting the Eiffel Tower Monday when a fire erupted at Notre Dame cathedral, destroying its spire and roof.

The fire was extinguished Tuesday morning after firefighters battled for 12-hours to control the flames, sparing the cathedral’s two bell towers.

Norwich High School Principal Kisten Giglio, who is on the trip, said in a statement, “Our students are safe; we were not near the cathedral when it occurred. Our hearts are with the people of France.”

A parent of a student on the trip, Brian Doliver, said his daughter had not yet visited Notre Dame cathedral, but that other students on the trip had visited the historic church on Monday morning. The students observed the smoke and flames in the distance from the Eiffel Tower.