Historic New York City Church Destroyed in Five-Alarm Fire
A historic church in Astoria, Queens, New York City, was destroyed by a five-alarm fire on Thursday evening. The First Reformed Church of Astoria, which had stood for over 130 years, caught fire in a vacant rectory before spreading to the main church building. The church, originally built in 1837 and rebuilt in 1888 after a previous fire, featured a Victorian Gothic design with terra cotta and copper details. The fire required a massive response from the FDNY, with 84 units and over 270 personnel involved. The blaze was difficult to control due to the age and structure of the building, leading to partial collapses of the roof and walls. Six firefighters were injured during the operation. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. 
