Historic New York City Church Burns in Five-Alarm Fire
A historic church in astoria, Queens-the First Reformed Church of Astoria-was destroyed by a large fire that began around 6:45 p.m. in a vacant rectory and then spread to the church itself. The Dutch Reformed parish dates back to the 1830s,and the building originally constructed in 1837 had been destroyed by fire in 1888. Fire officials described a fifth-alarm blaze that required a massive response, with about 84 FDNY units and more than 270 firefighters and EMS personnel; nearby residents were evacuated as heavy smoke filled the area. The age and structure of the buildings hampered suppression efforts, portions of the roof and walls collapsed, and at least several firefighters were injured by debris. the cause of the fire remains under examination, and the incident prompted extensive coverage from officials and local media.
A New York City church that had stood in Astoria, Queens for more than 130 years was destroyed by fire on Thursday.
The fire at the First Reformed Church of Astoria broke out at about 6:45 p.m. in a vacant rectory, FDNY officials said, according to NY1.
The fire then spread to the church.
The church had served a Dutch Reformed Church parish that was first organized in the 1830s. On Jan. 14, 1888, the church built in 1837 was destroyed by a fire, according to the website of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Queens NY Box 7509 – a fifth alarm fire in a church and exposures. 1 FDNY member injured and removed. @FDNYFC @fdny @FDNYFoundation @NYCEMSwatch @NYCEMCommish @UFANYC @Redwood00051 @nypost pic.twitter.com/QoHbZRULBA
— David Burns 🇺🇸🗽🇺🇸 (@FD4D) April 24, 2026
The church that was destroyed Wednesday had its cornerstone laid on Oct. 6, 1888.
“The brick Victorian Gothic building had terra cotta and copper details, and an octagonal tower and steeple. The original steeple was destroyed by lightning and was rebuilt,” the site said.
Thursday’s fire required a massive response.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said. 84 units including more than 270 fire and EMS personnel responded.
“When we arrived, this had escalated into a fifth-alarm fire,” Bonsignore said. “We had a significant number of resources here to bring it under control.”
UPDATE: 6 firefighters injured battling intense blaze at abandoned Astoria, Queens, church. @naveencbs2ny has the latest. https://t.co/VdqmdWQsYz
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) April 24, 2026
The fire took several hours to contain, sending heavy smoke into the surrounding neighborhood and forcing some nearby residents from their homes.
Fire officials said the age and structure of the buildings the fire difficult to extinguish.
“Once the fire gets into these old churches behind the walls and into the roof space, it’s very difficult to extinguish. And there was a major collapse danger to our members,” FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said.
Woods said portions of the roof and walls collapsed. At least one firefights was hit in the helmet by falling debris.
NOW: Heavy residential fire spreada to a church in Astoria Queens, raising to 5 Alarm.
First Reformed Church of Astoria was established in 1839 in NYC.
Video by Benjamin Dicker | Licensing @FreedomNTV [email protected] pic.twitter.com/B4yxWGdBvE
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 24, 2026
Five other firefighters were injured, FDNY Assistant Chief of EMS Operations Kathleen Knuth said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Resdidents of nearby buildings were evacuated while the fire was being fought.
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