Wild photos captured firefighters battling a raging 5-alarm fire at historic Queens church, which suffered another devastating inferno over a century ago, on Thursday evening.
The blaze started at a residence attached to the First Reformed Church of Astoria on 12th Street, between 27th Avenue and Main Avenue, around 6:45 p.m., according to the FDNY.
Roughly 270 firefighters and EMS workers responded to the scene as the flames spread to the church and grew into a 5-alarm fire, fire officials added.
Photos from the scene captured towering orange flames shooting from the house of worship’s roof and blanketing the street with smoky haze.
Five firefighters were taken to the hospital in unknown condition, officials said.
The parish, which was opened in the late 1830s, was damaged by a fire that broke out on January 14, 1888. The building was then razed and rebuilt, according to the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Smoke-eaters continued to battle the flames late into the night.
“The firefighters came at the same time we did. They looked like they were trying to localize the fire, keep it down, then it seemed to spread to the church,” nearby resident Jack told FreedomNewsTV.
“And it looks like they’ve just been trying to put it out in the church ever since. And it looks like it’s been a bit stubborn. It’s not going away,” he added.
Kevin Harris, who identified himself as a former head deacon of the church, said the community is reeling over the extensive damage the house of worship is expected to suffer.
“It hurts, it hurts my whole family. My sister was just over there. My niece went to this church. My mother went to this church. We have elders … who went to this church,” Harris said.
“Everyone has heard about this. People got married, baptized. This is our life. We’ve been going here since I moved out here in ’67.”
Local leaders advised nearby residents to remain indoors and keep their windows shut.
“I am in touch with NYCEM about a five-alarm fire at First Reformed Church of Astoria,” Assemblywoman Diana Moreno wrote on X.
“People nearby should avoid smoke and close windows. These street closures are in effect: 12th St from Astoria Blvd to 27th Ave and 27th Ave from 8th St to 14th St.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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