An inferno almost completely destroyed a more than century-old Sheepshead Bay church after burning inside the house of worship for hours after midnight on Thursday.
Some 140 members of New York’s Bravest in 33 trucks rushed to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on E. 23rd Street at 12:30 am as flames tore through the two-story holy site between Jerome and Voorhies avenues, according to a Fire Department spokesman.
Firefighters deemed the inferno a three-alarm blaze and battled the flames for roughly two hours before getting them under control around 2:17 am, according to the spokesman, who said the incident injured no one.
And it’s not the first time flames consumed the church formerly known as St. Matthias Chapel, which dates to 1895. In 2007, an inferno ravaged its parish hall, according to the church’s website.
The recent conflagration’s cause is unknown, according to authorities, who said the Fire Marshal is investigating the incident.
Messages seeking comment from the church’s leaders could not be left, because the house of worship’s answering machine was full when this reporter called on Thursday.
