Firefighters Save Historic Church in NYC Amid Warehouse Blaze

Firefighters in New York City successfully protected a historic church, known for its appearance in “The Godfather,” as a four-alarm fire raged through a nearby warehouse. The incident began around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday in Staten Island.

According to FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods, more than 200 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the emergency at Mount Loretto. He remarked during a press conference that the damage was significant, noting the roof had collapsed and indicating the establishment of a collapse zone as a precaution.

“Upon arrival, units encountered heavy fire throughout the building and immediately went into a defensive operation,” Woods explained. “We set up multiple large-caliber stream tower ladders and handlines.” The vacant warehouse, situated at 6581 Hylan Boulevard, has not been in use for five years. It’s located near several other buildings on the Mount Loretto grounds, including schools and the historic Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne, known for its role in the baptism scene of the iconic 1972 film.

The ornate Catholic church had previously suffered a significant fire in 1973, but its façade remained intact and it was reconstructed three years later. Fortunately, firefighters managed to gain control of the fire on Saturday, preventing it from spreading to adjacent structures. They indicated the fire was under control by approximately 8:30 p.m.

Woods highlighted that the windy conditions added to the challenge: “It’s very windy out here tonight. Our units did a great job with many of the flying embers, preventing additional structures from going on fire.”

One firefighter reportedly sustained a minor burn on his leg during the incident. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the Fire Marshal’s office.