A devastating fire tore through South Bushwick Reformed Church in Brooklyn on Friday, with flames spreading to the rectory and a neighboring building and smoke visible for miles.

Video shows the church steeple collapsing about a quarter hour after the blaze started, underscoring the extent of the damage.

The church sits on Bushwick Avenue near Himrod Street, and the fire specifically impacted the steeple area.

City officials, including Councilmember Jen Gutiérrez, monitored the scene and directed drivers to alternate routes as crews worked on site.

A full vacate order and a construction fence were issued for public safety, with the Department of Buildings conducting stability inspections and delaying demolition pending investigations into the landmarked structure.

Local leaders mourned the loss and urged community support for rebuilding, with calls for aid and possible reconstruction from Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council member Sandy Nurse.

The church has drawn strong community donations, though Steward cautioned donors to use official pages to avoid fake fundraising accounts.

Preservation groups emphasize the church’s historic landmark status and its role in the neighborhood, noting efforts over four years to safeguard it for the future.

News 12 is providing ongoing updates as the incident develops.

Pastor Letitia Stewart framed the church as a community of people beyond the building and spoke of moving forward with recovery and restoration.

Officials urged nearby residents to avoid the area, anticipate street closures, and keep windows closed to limit smoke exposure.

FDNY received the call just before 1:30 p.m., with about 200 firefighters responding to the scene.