World Trade Center spire lit red, white, blue in tribute to Notre Dame Cathedral

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The spire above One World Trade Center was illuminated in red, white, and blue—the colors of the flag of France—in solidarity with the French people over the catastrophic fire at the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

"Our hearts ached as we watched a devastating fire ravage one of the world's most sacred and celebrated religious monuments," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "The Notre Dame Cathedral's centuries of history, art, and iconic architecture are irreplaceable, and we are deeply grateful to the brave first responders who worked diligently to extinguish the flames and save portions of this significant piece of French and Catholic history."

Firefighters worked for more than 12 hours to bring the devastating fire under control. The inferno collapsed the cathedral's spire and roof but spared its bell towers.

A day after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address that he wants to see the cathedral rebuilt within five years.

The 408-foot spire atop New York's World Trade Center houses a broadcast transmitter, a beacon that can be seen from miles away, and hundreds of LEDs that can create millions of color combinations.