Local college student studying in Paris reacts to Notre Dame Cathedral fire

47 ABC – The Notre Dame Cathedral fire is hitting close to home. An Eastern Shore native, studying abroad in Paris, spoke to 47 ABC about his firsthand experience seeing the aftermath of the burned church.

Nate Sansom, a student at Salisbury University, is in Paris for a Bosserman UNESCO Fellowship, through S.U.’s Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution. He says that while he didn’t see the fire firsthand, he did see the smoke afterwards from his apartment balcony, which is about 3.5 miles from Notre Dame. “I could not see the flames but I could smell the smoke,” says Sansom.

He says the entire feeling in Paris was different after that horrific blaze. “It was truly a somber evening. A tragic event. Notre Dame is more than just a religious symbol. It’s the heartbeat of Paris. As I believe, a local politician referred to it, it is the heart and soul of a culture of people and of course of the Catholic community here in France.”

Sansom adds that this tragedy is being felt in every corner of the world and while it is a devastating loss, the effort to rebuild is promising.