The FDNY responded to a significant fire at a vacant church in Astoria, Queens, on Thursday evening. Nearly 200 firefighters and EMS personnel were on the scene, with six firefighters sustaining minor injuries. The fire started in the church rectory and quickly spread to the church itself, reaching five alarms. Thick smoke filled the area, forcing residents to wear masks. The intense flames led to the collapse of the church’s roof, causing evacuations from nearby buildings.
The historic Dutch Reformed Church, dating back to around 1850, had been abandoned for a year before the fire. The cause of the blaze is currently unknown, and firefighters are monitoring for hotspots overnight. Astoria resident and historian Dominique Perrot expressed not being surprised by the fire due to the church’s abandonment.
No further information is available at this time.
