Dramatic video shows steeple collapse as fire tears through Brooklyn church

A raging fire destroyed a historic church in Brooklyn on Friday.

Dramatic video shows the moment the steeple collapsed.

Bushwick church destroyed in fire

The FDNY said they got a call at 1:22 p.m. reporting heavy flames at South Bushwick Church near Himrod Street in Bushwick. It quickly escalated to a second, then a third alarm with nearly 200 first responders called to the scene.

"Black and grey smoke going up, going up, going up," witness Anthony Williams said, "and then the tower on the top just went up into flames."

Videos show the steeple of the church engulfed in flames, and another video shows the moment the steeple collapses, disappearing into a cloud of heavy smoke.

"It seemed like there was a collective gasp, and then a moment of silence where everyone I think was just trying to figure out how to respond," neighbor Chelsea Hightower said.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention.

The FDNY said, thankfully, nobody was in the church at the time of the fire.

The cause remains under investigation, but officials said it's not believed to be suspicious at this time.

Loss of a city landmark

According to city records, South Bushwick Church was built and dedicated in 1863, and was declared a city landmark in 1968.

The steeple had undergone major restoration in recent years, but the church's impact extended far beyond its architecture. It served as a hub for food distribution, community events, youth programs, resource fairs and worship services.

The neighborhood is devastated by the loss.

"We've all been on this block for years, and the people in this neighborhood have been here for decades, and this church was an institution on our block, and so it's really devastating to see a landmark like that go," Hightower said. 

"When my children was babies, I came to this church. Both of my children was baptized in this church," neighbor Dorothy Nelson said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said the loss felt especially painful on Juneteenth.

"On this day, as we think about freedom, this historic church has fallen," she said. "But as we know in our faith, church is more than a structure. Church is within, and that's why this church will rebuild."

James also noted the church's landmark status could help secure grants and other funding for reconstruction.

"This was a landmark church, and many people know that, so this is deeply sad in the community, but we are going to work with this church, work with the community and build back," New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse said.

"While the building has been damaged, the church is more than bricks and mortar. The people of South Bushwick Church remain strong in faith and united in purpose," Rev. Dr. James Steward II said.

Even as the smoke clears, community members say they're already planning to fundraise to help the church rebuild.