elaine cobb is there. >> reporter: as the blaze engulfed notre dame, the iconic spire and the roof made of wood and metal were lost. astonishingly, though, some of the famous ornaments from the church survived the fire. among them, the 40-foot-high decorative metal cross that sat atop the lead roof of the choir at the back of the cathedral. as the flames consumed the roof, the cross, which weighs more than 3300 pounds, fell on to the stone vaults of the choir. so while the metal was damaged, the cross did not melt. >> the cross fell really early in the fire. so we were lucky because the cross didn't burn a lot. and she fell just. it's a miracle. >> reporter: vincent comb is in charge of the restoration of the metal and lead roofs of the cathedral. the cross was taken to this iron works in normandy for the complex and delicate repairs. architect axel was involved in checking it could be repaired to the original 19th century d design. >> we were really happy to discover we would be able to use it and forge it again, and work with the metal that was here, because the cross was designed. so