Three-alarm fire destroys part of Yonkers church complex, home to new Orthodox group

Alexandra Rivera, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·1 min read
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A three-alarm fire destroyed the rectory of a Yonkers church complex early Tuesday morning.

Yonkers Deputy Fire Chief Joe Citrone said the fire started in the building at 20 Buckingham Road at about 3 a.m.

The church is being used by the newly formed St. George's Orthodox Church, but Anwi Hana, the president of the church board, said the building was only used occasionally for storage and a space for bible study groups.

Citrone said 70 to 80 firefighters arrived at the scene to a fully engulfed building and spent around three hours getting the fire under control.

The building, which was previously used as a rectory for Bryn Mawr Park Presbyterian Church, suffered extensive damage, including a collapsed roof and walls. The church itself was not burned.

Elias Villis, the chancellor for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, said a Jordanian congregation of Greek Orthodox Christians moved into the space around a year ago after using the Church of Our Savior in Rye to grow their community.

"It's a fairly new community, so this was a good punch in the gut," he said. "But they're going to bounce back. It's a very strong, vibrant community. They have incredible heart and love for the church."

Father Soterios Baroody said the church was under renovation to prepare for Christmas services. He said he hopes the church will still be able to hold Christmas Mass in the chapel.

Firefighters remain outside a building connected to St. George Orthodox Church in Yonkers Dec. 12, 2023. An overnight fire destroyed the building that sits behind the church. The building, formerly used as a school when the church property was owned by a previous church, was mostly unused at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters remain outside a building connected to St. George Orthodox Church in Yonkers Dec. 12, 2023. An overnight fire destroyed the building that sits behind the church. The building, formerly used as a school when the church property was owned by a previous church, was mostly unused at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

No churchgoers were in the building at the time of the fire, Citrone said, but five firefighters were taken to a nearby hospital for minor injuries including smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.

Citrone says the cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials suspect it involved a spark from ongoing construction.

Father Soterios Baroody, pastor of St. George Orthodox Church in Yonkers, hugs a church member outside the church on Buckingham Road Dec. 12, 2023. An overnight fire destroyed a building that sits behind the church. The building, formerly used as a school when the church property was owned by a previous church, was mostly unused at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Three-alarm fire destroys Yonkers NY church building