An enormous hearth tore by a Brooklyn church Wednesday, lowering the century-old home of worship to a pile of smoldering rubble, the FDNY mentioned.
Greater than 150 firefighters responded to place out the blaze that broke out contained in the Iglesia Pentecostal Arca Cristiana church on Halsey St. close to Central Ave. in Bushwick round 10:30 a.m., FDNY officers mentioned.
Residents who lived subsequent door to the church have been shortly alerted to the fireplace by the heavy smoke and flames and ran outdoors as a precaution.
The FDNY rushed to answer a three-alarm hearth on the Iglesia Pentecostal Arca Cristiana church at 1155 Halsey St., in Brooklyn, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Shawn Inglima/New York Day by day Information)
When firefighters arrived, “we had heavy fire throughout the church,” FDNY Chief of Hearth Operations Kevin Woods mentioned on the scene. “Our units moved in aggressively with multiple hand lines, but due to the amount of fire and structural stability we moved to an exterior attack.”
Firefighters used “large caliber” water streams to place out the fireplace because the blaze consumed the bell tower and a big a part of the church.
Tony Lopez was working at a close-by deli, when he noticed the smoke from the fireplace curl down the road.
A fireplace on the Iglesia Pentecostal Arca Cristiana church at 1155 Halsey St. in Brooklyn, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Pictures courtesy of Randy Ureno)
The hearth was so intense that the constructing finally collapsed, Woods mentioned. The church was inbuilt 1910, in line with streeteasy.com.
“The church is over 100 years old,” Woods mentioned.
An adjoining constructing was additionally broken by the fireplace.
“We didn’t think it was going to be this bad,” Urene mentioned. “We left just in case, but we didn’t think the whole thing was going to fall.”
The church’s pastor was contained in the church when the fireplace broke out, however he escaped with out the FDNY’s assist, Woods mentioned. No accidents have been reported.
FDNY hearth marshals try to find out what sparked the blaze. It was not instantly clear simply the place the fireplace began, in line with Woods.
FDNY responding to a third-alarm-fire on the Iglesia Pentecostal Arca Cristiana church at 1155 Halsey St. in Brooklyn, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Shawn Inglima/New York Day by day Information)
“I was at work when this happened, and I was called,” Nunez, 22, mentioned. “I came over and saw smoke, and you could see the smoke from a mile away.
“I can’t even put into words how tragic this is,” he mentioned. “I had the honor to preach and sing and be the leader of the youth at this church.
“This is more than just a building. It’s more than what we see. It’s where we congregate to serve our Lord, so it’s difficult.”
FDNY responding to a third-alarm-fire on the Iglesia Pentecostal Arca Cristiana church at 1155 Halsey St. in Brooklyn, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Shawn Inglima/New York Day by day Information)
A a lot smaller hearth broke out within the church about 13 years in the past, however congregants have been fast to restore the harm, he mentioned.
A GoFundMe put up asking for donations to assist parishioners rebuild was put up inside hours of the fireplace.
“For decades, our church has been more than just a building — it has been a home for those seeking faith, a shelter for those in need, and a beacon of hope for our community,” the put up learn. “From Sunday services to weddings, food drives to youth programs, Arca Cristiana has been at the heart of our Halsey St., touching countless lives. It was where we prayed, celebrated, and supported one another through life’s joys and struggles. Now, we stand in the ashes, heartbroken yet filled with faith that together, we can rebuild.”
Urene mentioned the pastor lived within the church together with his household. The household had been preaching from the church for greater than 20 years, she mentioned.
“We’re concerned for them. We haven’t seen them yet,” she mentioned. “They’re so sweet and amazing. There’s a lot of people who like that church.”
Initially Printed: February 19, 2025 at 3:50 PM EST
