Historic NYC church engulfed in 5-alarm blaze as 6 firefighters injured battling stubborn flames

A monolithic occurrence engulfed a historical New York religion connected Thursday, arsenic agleam orangish flames moved done the gathering and firefighters battled to extinguish the inferno.

The five-alarm blaze initially began astatine a residence attached to the First Reformed Church of Astoria successful Queens astir 6:45 p.m., the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said.

Responding units spotted the occurrence successful a vacant two-story rectory earlier it rapidly extended to the church, the FDNY said.

"While operating connected the exterior, a information of the extortion started collapsing, walls collapsed, and immoderate bricks deed 1 of our members successful the helmet. He was treated by FDNY Rescue Medics, our FAST Unit, and different EMS unit and past taken to an country hospital," Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said.

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A occurrence rapidly ravaged the First Reformed Church of Astoria successful Queens, New York connected Thursday. (New York Fire Department)

More than 270 occurrence and EMS unit responded to the country earlier it was afloat nether power astatine 10:30 p.m. Six firefighters were injured. Images of the occurrence showed flames ripping done the operation arsenic firefighters carried retired an exterior onslaught to extinguish the blaze.

Kevin Harris, who said helium was the past caput deacon of the church, told section media that the assemblage is reeling implicit the extended harm the location of worship is expected to suffer.

"It hurts; it hurts my full family. My sister was conscionable implicit there. My niece went to this church. My parent went to this church. We person elders from Astoria Projects that went to this church," Harris said. "People got married, baptized… this is our life."

"We've been going here—I moved retired present successful '67," helium added.

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The First Reformed Church of Astoria is seen hours aft a occurrence damaged overmuch of the wrong of the building. (New York Fire Department)

A adjacent resident, who gave his sanction arsenic Jack, said helium arrived astatine the country of the occurrence astatine the aforesaid clip that firefighters responded.

"They looked similar they were trying to localize the fire, support it down, past it seemed to dispersed to the church," helium told FreedomNewsTV. "And it looks similar they’ve conscionable been trying to enactment it retired successful the religion ever since. And it looks similar it’s been a spot stubborn. It’s not going away," helium added.

The church, which opened sometime successful the 1830s, was besides damaged during a occurrence much than a period agone connected Jan. 14, 1888. That blaze damaged the floor, immoderate pews, and the religion organ, according to the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

An FDNY motortruck is parked connected a thoroughfare successful Manhattan, New York, connected July 5, 2024. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto)

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On Friday, authorities Assemblywoman Diana Moreno, whose territory includes Astoria, praised the FDNY for its enactment to extinguish the blaze.

"Thank you to our archetypal responders for protecting us," she wrote connected X. "My sincere wishes for a speedy betterment to the six firefighters who sustained non-life-threatening injuries."