Firefighters rescued a historic Staten Island church made famous by “The Godfather” after a fast-moving, wind-driven four-alarm fire erupted Saturday.
More than 200 firefighters responded to Mount Loretto after the blaze began in an abandoned warehouse at about 5:45 p.m., FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said during a news conference Saturday evening.
The warehouse sustained extensive damage, including a collapsed roof, Woods said. Authorities established a collapse zone around the structure as crews worked to secure the scene.
The vacant warehouse had stood unused for five years and was surrounded by dozens of other buildings on the Mount Loretto property, including two schools, a senior center and the historic Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne.
Despite strong winds and the threat of spreading flames, firefighters kept the fire from reaching the neighboring buildings, Woods said.
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“It’s very windy out here tonight,” Woods said, praising crews for stopping airborne embers from igniting additional structures.
Among the buildings spared was the Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne, whose exterior was used for the baptism scene in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic film “The Godfather.”
The ornate Catholic church has survived fire before. It was destroyed in a 1973 blaze and rebuilt three years later, according to The New York Times.
The fire was brought under control by about 8:30 p.m., although crews remained at the site applying water to lingering hot spots, Woods said.
One firefighter sustained a minor burn injury to his leg, according to Woods.
The FDNY Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate what caused the blaze.
