5-alarm blaze burns at Queens church and rectory, FDNY says

A five-alarm fire overtook a church and rectory in Queens on Thursday evening, according to the FDNY.

Fire officials said the initial call came in around 6:46 p.m. for a reported fire at 27-21 12th St., near the First Reformed Church of Astoria, between 27th Avenue and Main Avenue. The blaze was later escalated to a fifth alarm at 7:57 p.m., officials said.

In total, 84 units and about 270 fire and EMS personnel had been deployed, the FDNY said.

City emergency officials warned people nearby to avoid smoke and close their windows, according to Emergency Management.

The First Reformed Church of Astoria dates back to the 19th century and is one of the neighborhood’s oldest congregations.

It was not immediately known if there were any injuries or the extent of the damage.

This is a developing story and may be updated.