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A global epidemic church destruction via fire has been obvious to many across the Christian community for years now, with the most famous being Notre Dame in Paris. Canada and the United States have also been heavily effected by church burnings. As Islam takes over New York City, this incident is suspect as well.

One of New York City’s oldest churches, the First Reformed Church of Astoria, was ravaged by a raging five-alarm fire Thursday evening that began in an attached vacant rectory and quickly spread to the main sanctuary. Dramatic aerial video of the inferno, showing towering flames and thick smoke billowing against the Manhattan skyline, has gone viral on social media.

The blaze was reported around 6:45 p.m. on April 23 at the church complex on 12th Street between 27th Avenue and Astoria Boulevard. FDNY units arrived to find heavy fire in the two-story vacant rectory, which rapidly extended to the adjacent church building. Both structures, more than 180 years old, were vacant at the time of the fire.

Firefighters initially attacked the flames from inside both buildings but were forced to switch to an exterior defensive operation as the fire intensified and structural integrity failed. A portion of the roof and walls collapsed during the operation, sending debris onto firefighters. One member was struck in the helmet by falling bricks, and five others suffered non-serious injuries. All were treated at local hospitals.

More than 270 firefighters and EMS personnel from 84 units responded to the scene. The fire was placed under control shortly after 10:30 p.m. As of Friday morning, firefighters remained on scene conducting overhaul amid concerns of further collapse. Building inspectors expanded the collapse zone to include an adjacent apartment building’s driveway and garage.

The First Reformed Church of Astoria was established in 1839, making it one of the oldest Protestant congregations in the city. It has deep roots in the Dutch Reformed tradition and survived a previous devastating fire in 1888 that destroyed much of the original structure. The church has been a neighborhood landmark for generations, though it had been temporarily closed and vacant for roughly a year prior to Thursday’s blaze. Local residents expressed sorrow over the loss of the historic building, with some noting community concerns about trespassers in the abandoned property.

Video captured by citizen journalists and news helicopters showed intense orange flames erupting from the church roof, massive plumes of smoke drifting over Astoria, and FDNY ladder companies and aerial platforms directing powerful water streams onto the burning structures. Firefighters were visible working from elevated boom lifts amid the chaos as night fell over the Queens neighborhood.

No official cause has been determined, and the FDNY has not released any information suggesting foul play at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

The fire marks yet another challenge for preservationists in New York City, where historic houses of worship face threats from neglect, vacancy, and the elements. As dawn broke Friday, the extent of the damage to the century-old church remained unclear, but early reports indicated significant destruction to the roof and interior.

You can watch the fire and its aftermath here.

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