Investigators probing possible arson in blaze that tore through landmarked, 173-year-old NYC church
A fire destroyed the historic South Bushwick Reformed Church in Brooklyn on June 19, prompting a large emergency response. Investigators have not ruled out arson and are focusing on a person of interest captured on video leaving the scene. Parishioners are seeking donations to repair the landmarked building while the city’s Department of Buildings has issued a vacate order.
- ▪The three‑alarm blaze gutted much of the 173‑year‑old wooden church and caused the historic steeple to collapse.
- ▪Nearly 200 firefighters and EMS personnel responded, and the fire was extinguished after about two and a half hours.
- ▪Authorities are reviewing video footage of a suspicious individual seen fleeing the church before the fire ignited.
- ▪Investigators are combing through the debris for evidence of foul play, though extensive damage hampers the effort.
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Metro Investigators probing possible arson in blaze that tore through landmarked, 173-year-old NYC church By Joe Marino and David DeTurris Published July 12, 2026, 10:17 p.m. ET (function() { var overlay = document.getElementById("nyp-player-lcp-overlay"); if (!overlay) { return; } function hideOverlay() { overlay.remove(); } function afterDCL() { requestAnimationFrame(hideOverlay); } if (document.readyState === "loading") { document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", afterDCL, { once: true }); } else { afterDCL(); } })(); See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google Officials have yet to rule out arson as the cause of a fierce blaze that destroyed a landmarked Brooklyn church last month – and are eyeing a suspicious person of interest, sources said.
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