BROOKLYN — A fire broke out at the South Bushwick Reformed Church at 855 Bushwick Avenue near Himrod Street in Brooklyn on Friday, June 19, 2026. The incident escalated to a third-alarm fire response, and officials have determined the structure will require demolition.

Emergency services received reports of the fire just before 1:30 p.m. The church's steeple collapsed approximately 15 to 20 minutes after the fire began. Sixty-three fire department units and 192 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene, and fire marshals are investigating the cause of the blaze, stating they do not currently suspect arson. The fire also spread to a rectory and an adjacent building. Firefighters contained the blaze, though deep-seated fire remained inside the structure during initial operations, and one firefighter sustained minor injuries, declining further medical treatment after evaluation at the scene.

Attorney General Leticia James stated the church would receive government grants and financial support for rebuilding. James said, "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 is why this church will rebuild."

Pastor James Stewart reflected on the emotional impact. "When we think about the 175 years of ministry here, it is a devastating loss emotionally, but we know that the church is more than just a building, it is people, and so that was my first thought was the people, and so we will get through this together." Stewart said.

The South Bushwick Reformed Church, constructed in 1853, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its congregation traces its origins to 17th-century Dutch settlements. In August 2020, Tropical Storm Isaias damaged the church steeple, prompting repairs funded by congregation donations and an Intervention Fund grant that were completed in 2022. The New York City Department of Buildings issued a violation in August 2021 after an inspection found the steeple was leaning and portions of the roof were hanging loose.