6:53 a.m. EDT, July 28, 2010
Access remained restricted Tuesday at one of Notre Dame’s most well-known landmarks after suffering damage from a fire.

Tuesday morning, people who stopped by to pray and reflect at the sacred stone shrine also added a prayer of thanks, grateful that it wasn’t worse.

“I'm very glad because it's a special spot for everyone," said Arlene Vogt, a retired university employee who had stopped by to pray.

The grotto, built in 1896, is one-seventh the size of the famed French shrine where it is believed that the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette on 18 occasions in 1858.

“It epitomizes…the principles [Notre Dame] was built on and founded on,” said Philosophy Professor Alfred Freddoso. “And over the years, so many people — so many students and faculty and visitors — come here to pray.”

Fire Chief Bill Farhut said the fire was intense, but looked worse than it was.

“It's a substantial structure,” he said, “It's made of granite, and will withstand a lot of heat.”

According to a post on the school's website, the grotto caught fire in September 1985 when it was loaded with candles. Since then, only a limited number of candles have been allowed to burn there.

So far the university is not saying if a candle sparked the fire.
Farhut said engineers have been called to inspect the structure and make sure it’s safe for re-entry. No one was sure how long that would take.

University spokesperson Dennis Brown said the grotto itself remains closed, but visitors may still pray at the perimeter of the shrine.