Firefighters save historic 'Godfather' church from raging NYC warehouse blaze
Firefighters Contain Four‑Alarm Blaze in Staten Island Warehouse, Protect Historic Church
A large blaze that erupted in a vacant warehouse on Staten Island on Saturday night was brought under control by more than 200 FDNY firefighters and emergency medical personnel, sparing a nearby historic church that once served as a backdrop for the 1972 film “The Godfather.”
The fire began at about 5:45 p.m. in a warehouse located at 6581 Hylan Boulevard on the Mount Loretto grounds. The structure had been empty for five years and its roof collapsed as flames spread. FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods told reporters that the warehouse suffered “heavy, heavy damage” and that a collapse zone was established around the building.
“Upon arrival, units encountered heavy fire throughout the building and immediately went into a defensive operation,” Woods said. “We set up multiple large‑caliber stream tower ladders and handlines.” The crew’s efforts, coupled with strong winds that could have driven embers to neighboring structures, prevented the fire from reaching the Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne, a 19th‑century Catholic church that was famously used in the baptism scene of “The Godfather.” The church had been largely destroyed by fire in 1973 but was rebuilt in 1976, and its façade remains a landmark on Broadway in Staten Island.
Firefighters fought the flames through the night and reported the fire was under control by about 8:30 p.m., roughly 2.5 hours after it started. One firefighter sustained a minor burn injury to his leg during the operation.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown, and the New York City Fire Marshal’s office is conducting an investigation. The warehouse is surrounded by other buildings on the Mount Loretto property, including two schools and the historic church, adding to the urgency of the response.
“We’re very grateful for the work of our units tonight,” Woods said, noting that the wind had been “very windy” but that the crews’ use of large‑caliber equipment and handlines kept the embers from igniting additional structures. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges firefighters face when confronting multi‑structure fires in densely built urban environments.
