A historic church in South Bushwick, Brooklyn, will have to be demolished after a major fire tore through the building on Friday afternoon. Officials said the blaze left the structure beyond saving, and crews were still working at the scene more than three hours after it began. The fire became one of the day's biggest emergencies for the neighborhood, drawing a large response from firefighters.
According to the reporting from the scene, the fire broke out at around 1:22 in the afternoon at 855 Bushwick Avenue, near Hemrod Street in South Bushwick. It quickly grew to a second alarm and then a third alarm within about 20 minutes. Nearly 200 fire personnel were sent to battle the flames as they spread through the building.
One of the most striking moments came roughly 15 minutes after the fire started, when the steeple of the church toppled over. The building was the South Bushwick Reformed Church, which had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its loss was described as the destruction of a longtime landmark for the city.
Fire officials said the blaze had been contained but was not yet out, with a deep seated fire still burning inside the structure. The rectory behind the church and a building adjacent to it also caught fire. The rectory, a separate building, was a particular concern as crews worked to keep the flames from causing further damage.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries during the response but refused medical attention, according to officials. There was no reason to believe the fire was suspicious, but fire marshals were on the scene investigating the cause. Fire operations were continuing into the evening as the situation remained active.
The loss was described as deeply devastating for the surrounding community. Those at the scene said the church ran a range of youth programs, held food distribution every summer and organized a back to school event that welcomed local schools. For many in the neighborhood, it had long served as a gathering place and a source of support.
Community advocates said they had supported the church for a long time and vowed to help it rebuild. They described it as a landmark that had helped people through difficult times, and said they would keep working with the congregation and the city. Even as the building was lost, they pledged that the work of the church and the community would continue.