Five hurt — including 3 firefighters — after five-alarm fire erupts at NYC church during Easter service
At least five people, including three firefighters, were injured when flames broke out at a Brooklyn church where around 170 worshippers were gathered for Easter service Sunday, the FDNY said.
The five-alarm blaze was reported just before 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Rosary Pompeii Church in East Williamsburg, where about 44 fire companies rushed to put out the flames, Fire Department sources told The Post.
“During the Mass, they noticed that black smoke was coming out [from behind the altar], and the faithful let me know,” said church priest Father Romulo Marin. “When I turned around and opened to the door [to the church office located behind the altar], it was already on fire, everything was on fire, the roof [in the office].”
The FDNY shared images of the blaze, with dark smoke seen billowing out of the windows of the church and flames reaching the rooftop.
Five people were treated for minor injuries, fire officials said on X. Three of those hurt were Bravest, authorities said.
Officials said firefighters did an “amazing” job putting down the flames — including one smoke eater who fell through the floor and managed to bounce back to continue battling the fire.
“One of our firefighters fell from the second floor, through to the first floor while fighting the fire,” Assistant Chief Michael Meyers.
“This shows the strength, tenacity, and determination of our firefighters. They gave the mayday for him. He didn’t realize that the mayday was for him and he bounced back up off the floor, came in and wanted to run back up the stairs to address the mayday issue, not realizing the mayday was for himself.”
The priest — who said fire officials told him the fire’s cause was electrical — added that his biggest concern was not that the Easter service was ruined but that all the members of his congregation were safe and accounted for.
“Everybody left in an ordinary fashion, slowly, they exited the church. For me, it was the big worry that everyone was safe,” he said.
As for the blaze breaking out on Easter Sunday, Marin said, “Christ has risen. The church we can rebuild.”
One of the worshippers, who identified herself as Blanca, mourned the loss of the house of worship.
“It’s very sad because we lost our church. This is the church that I go to every day,” she said.
This is a developing story.
