140 Year Old NYC Church Destroyed in Catastrophic Five Alarm Blaze, Six Firefighters Injured

Historic 1889 Church in Queens Destroyed by Devastating Five Alarm Fire

A massive five alarm fire tore through the First Reformed Church of Astoria in Queens, New York on Thursday, April 24, 2026, leaving six firefighters injured and reducing one of the city's oldest churches to a hollowed out shell.

The blaze erupted around 6:45 p.m. in a vacant two story rectory on 12th Street, between Astoria Boulevard and 27th Avenue, before rapidly spreading to the adjacent church building. The Victorian Gothic structure, completed in 1889 and featuring terra cotta and copper details along with a distinctive octagonal tower, had stood for nearly 140 years.

The FDNY deployed a staggering 270 fire and EMS personnel from 84 units to combat the inferno, which took approximately three hours and 45 minutes to bring under control around 10:30 p.m.

Six firefighters sustained injuries during the response. One suffered a serious injury when a portion of the collapsing roof sent bricks striking his helmet during exterior operations. The remaining five sustained non life threatening injuries.

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 major collapse danger to our members.

FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods

Woods explained that due to the structural instability of the building and the sheer volume of fire, crews were forced to abandon interior operations and shift to an exterior attack.

FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore confirmed the scale of the response, stating they had "a significant number of resources" deployed to contain the blaze.

The congregation's history stretches back to 1837, when members first built a church on the site. That original structure was destroyed by fire in 1888, and the current building was completed the following year. Now, nearly 140 years later, fire has once again devastated this historic house of worship.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the fire's origin, and the cause remains undetermined at this time.

Six FDNY Firefighters Hurt as Flames Engulf Century Old Astoria Church

Neighbors described the scene as "unbearable" as the flames consumed the beloved landmark, with residents on surrounding streets also displaced by the emergency response. The fire has raised questions about whether the historic structure can be saved or whether it faces demolition.

The Crusader's Opinion

Another historic church reduced to ashes. The First Reformed Church of Astoria survived the Civil War, two World Wars, and 140 years of New York weather, only to be destroyed starting from a vacant rectory that nobody was watching. Churches across the West are burning at an alarming rate and too many people shrug it off as coincidence. Whether this was arson or neglect, the result is the same: a piece of Christian heritage is gone forever. We owe it to every congregation that built these sacred spaces to demand answers and demand protection. If this were a mosque or a synagogue, the outrage would be deafening. Where is that same energy for the Church?

Take Action

• Contact your local representatives and demand increased fire protection and surveillance for historic houses of worship in your community.
• Donate to the First Reformed Church of Astoria's rebuilding efforts. Reach out to the Reformed Church in America at www.rca.org to find out how you can help.
• Support www.TheShepherdsShield.org to help protect and defend Christian communities worldwide.
• Pray for the six injured FDNY firefighters and their families. Consider donating to the FDNY Foundation at www.fdnyfoundation.org to support the men and women who risk their lives for us.
• Talk to your church leadership about fire safety plans, insurance coverage, and security measures for your own house of worship. Do not wait until it is too late.