NEW YORK (VINnews) — A five-alarm fire tore through a vacant rectory and spread to a historic Queens church Thursday night, injuring six firefighters and triggering evacuations in the surrounding neighborhood, officials said.

The blaze broke out around 6:45 p.m. at the First Reformed Church of Astoria complex in Astoria, according to the Fire Department of the City of New York.

At about 6:45 p.m. Thursday, the FDNY responded to reports of a fire at the First Reformed Church of Astoria at 27-26 12th Street in Queens. Units arrived and observed heavy fire in a vacant two-story rectory. The fire rapidly extended to the church, and units moved into both… pic.twitter.com/cQOewqJ1kl

— FDNY (@FDNY) April 24, 2026

Fire officials said flames began in a vacant rectory before rapidly extending into the church, where heavy fire conditions and concerns about collapse forced crews to abandon an interior attack and battle the blaze from outside.

Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said portions of the roof and walls collapsed during operations. One firefighter was struck by falling debris and taken to a hospital, while five others suffered minor injuries.

More than 270 fire and EMS personnel responded as thick smoke spread through the neighborhood and nearby buildings were evacuated. The fire was brought under control late Thursday night, though crews remained on scene monitoring for hotspots.

Residents described the church as a longtime Astoria landmark dating to the 19th century. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.