A five-alarm fire in Queens severely damaged a historic church after spreading from a nearby rectory Thursday evening. Six firefighters were injured as crews battled the blaze for hours.

Fire engulfs historic Queens church after blaze spreads from rectory as a massive fire tore through a historic house of worship in New York City, sending flames through the structure and prompting a large-scale emergency response. The New York City Fire Department said the blaze began at approximately 6:45 PM on Thursday in a vacant two-story rectory attached to the First Reformed Church of Astoria in Queens.

Firefighters arriving at the scene observed heavy flames in the rectory before the fire rapidly spread to the adjacent church building. Officials said the situation escalated quickly, requiring a five-alarm response as crews worked from the exterior to contain the flames. During operations, part of the roof collapsed, along with sections of the walls, sending debris onto the ground and striking one firefighter’s helmet. The firefighter was treated on-site and transported to a local hospital.

In total, more than 270 fire and emergency medical personnel responded to the incident, which was brought under control at approximately 10:30 PM. Authorities confirmed that six firefighters sustained injuries, though none were immediately reported as life-threatening.

Witnesses described a stubborn and fast-moving fire that challenged containment efforts. A nearby resident said firefighters initially attempted to localize the blaze before it spread into the church, where crews continued battling the flames for several hours.

The First Reformed Church of Astoria, which dates back to the 1830s, has long served as a central gathering place for the local community. Residents expressed deep concern over the extensive damage to the historic structure, which has hosted generations of weddings, baptisms, and community events. The building had previously sustained damage in a fire in 1888, according to historical records.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.