Brooklyn church burning probed as arson attack

The June 19 fire that devastated the 173-year-old South Bushwick Reformed Church on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, is being investigated as a possible act of arson after video showed a person fleeing the scene shortly before the church caught fire.

Investigators continued to comb through the church’s remains for any signs of foul play, but the extensive damage and amount of debris have made the investigation difficult, FDNY said. FDNY said the fire emitted large quantities of smoke and reported that nearly 200 firefighters were required to put out the blaze during a two-and-a-half-hour battle.

South Bushwick Reformed Church is attempting to repair the damage through a GoFundMe campaign.

“While we are grateful that no lives were lost, the loss of our worship space and ministry center has deeply impacted our congregation and neighborhood,” the church said on its GoFundMe page. The church had raised more than $14,000 as of Saturday and has requested that the city put its demolition on hold, citing its structural engineer’s assessment that the structure remains sound, per Lodi News.

The church also posted a message of encouragement on its website.

“Through worship, prayer, outreach, fellowship, and compassionate ministry, generations have encountered God’s presence within these walls,” the website reads. “Today, those walls have been damaged, but our mission remains intact. The church is not brick and mortar alone. The church is people. The church is faith. The church is love in action. As we begin the difficult journey ahead, we are working closely with city agencies, engineers, preservation experts, and community partners to assess the damage and determine the path toward restoration and rebuilding. We remain committed to serving our congregation and our neighborhood throughout this process. We ask for your prayers, your encouragement, and your partnership through financial giving during this season of recovery. In the coming days and weeks, we will share additional opportunities to support restoration and rebuilding efforts and help preserve this historic house of worship for future generations.”

The church was built in 1853 but has congregational roots dating back as far as 1600, according to the National Fund for Sacred Spaces.