Bushwick church in ruins after fire; DOB issues vacate orders
Investigators are working to determine what sparked the massive flames that broke out at Iglesia Pentecostal Arca Cristiana on Halsey Street Tuesday morning.
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A historic church in Bushwick is now reduced to rubble after a devastating fire tore through the building, causing its roof to collapse.
Investigators are working to determine what sparked the massive flames that broke out at Iglesia Pentecostal Arca Cristiana on Halsey Street Tuesday morning.
According to the FDNY, firefighters arriving at the scene around 10:40 a.m. found heavy flames and thick smoke pouring from the two-story church. The fire spread so quickly that crews were forced to exit the building and battle the flames from outside.
The fire burned for hours before the structure’s roof gave way. The church’s bell tower collapsed onto a nearby parking structure.
Now, the building stands as a shell of what it once was, with its right side leaning against the neighboring property.
Due to the extensive fire damage, the New York City Department of Buildings has issued a full vacate order for 1155 and 1159 Halsey St., along with an emergency order to seal the properties for public safety.
Additional partial vacate orders were also issued for:
545 Central Ave. – garage and entire third floor
543, 541 and 539 Central Ave. – rear yards and entire third floors
DOB inspectors will convene for an interagency meeting at the fire site Wednesday at 10 a.m. to continue damage assessments.
Neighbors say the loss of the church is deeply felt in the community.
“The prayers on Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving—everybody is going to miss it,” said Bushwick resident Denise Peace. “All the neighbors are probably still looking at it.”
Despite the destruction, no injuries were reported. The church’s pastor was the only person inside at the time of the fire, and he managed to escape safely.
Fire officials and DOB inspectors are continuing their investigations into the cause of the fire and the extent of the structural damage.
