Firefighters Save Historic 'Godfather' Church as Warehouse Blaze Rages in New York

A historic church in Staten Island, New York, featured in the 1972 classic film "The Godfather," has been saved from a fierce fire that tore through a vacant warehouse nearby. The four-alarm blaze badly damaged the warehouse, but firefighters' efforts left the church unharmed.

The fire began spreading inside the empty warehouse at Mount Loretto at around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday. More than 200 firefighters and EMS personnel rushed to the scene, FDNY chief of operations Kevin Woods told a press conference that evening.

Woods said there was heavy damage to the structure, its roof had collapsed, and a collapse zone was being maintained around it. On arrival, he said, units encountered heavy fire throughout the building and immediately went into a defensive operation, setting up large-calibre stream tower ladders and handlines.

The warehouse at 6581 Hylan Boulevard had been vacant for five years, but it stands near several other structures on the Mount Loretto grounds, including two schools and the historic Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne. That church appeared in the exterior shots of the baptism scene in the 1972 film "The Godfather."

The church's own history is eventful. The ornate Catholic church was largely destroyed by a fire in 1973, though its façade survived, and it was rebuilt three years later. This time, too, fire threatened the building.

Firefighters brought Saturday's blaze under control and stopped it spreading to the other buildings. The fire was under control at around 8:30 p.m.

Woods said it was very windy that night, and crews did a great job dealing with flying embers and preventing additional structures from catching fire.

One firefighter suffered a minor burn injury to his leg in the incident. No other major casualties were reported.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. The Fire Marshal's office is investigating.

For local people, the rescue of a building woven into film history gives the incident special significance. Although the warehouse was destroyed, those concerned see the saving of the rest of the Mount Loretto grounds — above all the historic church — as the day's greatest relief.