Full Breakdown
Inferno Engulfs Historic South Bushwick Reformed Church, Toppling 173-Year-Old Steeple
6/20/2026, 6:45:55 AM
Core Event: Fire and Structural Collapse
On Friday, June 19, a fire ignited at the South Bushwick Reformed Church (855 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn) around 1:30 p.m. The blaze engulfed the 1853 steeple, which collapsed within minutes, and spread to the roof and rectory. Firefighters contained the flames by early evening, leaving the steeple and most of the roof destroyed.
Background & Context: A Landmarked 19th-Century House of Worship
The Greek-Revival church was completed in 1853 and serves a congregation dating to 1654, among Brooklyn’s oldest. It became a NYC landmark in 1969 and entered the National Register in 1982. The steeple was repaired in 2022 after prior storm damage and a 2021 leaning violation.
Timeline of the June 19 Blaze
- 1:20 p.m.: Fire reported; FDNY received 911 call (1:22 p.m.) and dispatched units; steeple collapsed around 1:45 p.m., captured on video.
- 3:35 p.m.: Main flames knocked down; by 4 p.m. no visible fire remained.
Data & Statistics: Response and Damage
- 63 FDNY units and 192 fire/EMS personnel (?200 firefighters) responded.
- The fire escalated to a three-alarm blaze within 20 minutes.
- One firefighter suffered minor injuries and declined treatment.
Official Statements & Responses
FDNY said a deep-seated fire threatened the rectory and found no arson evidence. Attorney General Leticia James pledged state grants for rebuilding; Pastor James Stewart called the loss devastating but affirmed the congregation’s resilience.
Criticism & Opposition: Community Grief
Residents called the blaze heartbreaking, lamenting the loss of a generational anchor and restored landmark.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Some accounts say the fire spread to the rectory and an adjacent building; others claim it stayed within the church. Reports differ on whether the alarm rose from second to third or was three-alarm from the start. The cause remains under investigation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I called 911, and then it started getting that smoky, smoky, smoky, smoky, smoky,” — Anthony Williams, Witness.
- “Horrible. Heartbreaking. I don't cry because I can hold it in but ever since I was a little kid I loved this church,” — Eva Rivera, Resident.
- “It’s so sad right now seeing it knocked down,” — Lewis, Long-time Bushwick Resident.
- “On this day as we think about freedom, this historic church has fallen. But as we know in our faith, church is more than a structure. Church is within. And that's why this church will rebuild,” — Leticia James, New York Attorney General.
What’s Next: Rebuilding and Investigation
The Attorney General will provide emergency grants; the congregation plans to rebuild on site. Demolition of the damaged shell follows structural assessment, while FDNY continues the fire-origin investigation.
