A fire broke out at St. Edmund Church in Queens on Saturday, resulting in severe damage and the cancellation of Easter Sunday services. Video footage captured heavy flames engulfing the church, causing destruction to the interior, including scorched pews and a destroyed piano. Fortunately, the building remained structurally intact, and no injuries were reported. Initial investigations suggest the fire was likely caused by electrical issues. Parishioners plan to attend services at other nearby churches while reflecting on the church's resilience after previous damage from Superstorm Sandy.
"That's scary damage because that was on the altar," said neighbor Debbie Egan-Chin, whose husband shot the footage that shows the heavy flames at around 2 p.m.
"The parish had just set up for Easter Mass earlier this morning and so at the time that the fire happened, there was nobody inside," Quaglione said.
"The smell of the fire just brings back so many memories of the storm and I think we had our closing here when we bought our house," neighbor Janie Culleton said.
"That window there, Father Connolly gave me a shot of whiskey before I walked out into the alter. So I remember looking out the window and seeing my friends," said Bill King.
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