Historic NYC Church Completely Destroyed by Massive Fire
David Lindfield
April 24, 2026 - 4:22 pm
A historic New York City church that stood for more than 130 years in Astoria, Queens, was destroyed Thursday evening after a massive fire tore through the property, prompting an extensive emergency response and injuring multiple firefighters.
The blaze, which began in a nearby vacant structure, quickly spread and engulfed the landmark building, reducing it to ruins.
Fire Rapidly Escalates Into Major Emergency
The fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. in a vacant rectory adjacent to the First Reformed Church of Astoria, according to FDNY officials.
Flames quickly spread to the church itself, escalating into a fifth-alarm fire by the time crews arrived on scene.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said the scale of the response reflected the severity of the situation.
https://slaynews.com/news/historic-nyc-church-completely-destroyed-massive-fire/
