Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Fire Breaks Out in Century-Old East Harlem Orthodox Church, FDNY Says

By  Trevor Kapp and Aidan Gardiner | October 4, 2013 7:03am | Updated on October 4, 2013 8:11am

 A fire erupted in the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral on East 97th Street just after midnight Friday, the FDNY said.
A fire erupted in the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral on East 97th Street just after midnight Friday, the FDNY said.
View Full Caption
Zachary Brennan

EAST HARLEM — A fire erupted within a century-old Russian Orthodox church in East Harlem early Friday morning.

Flames broke out in the basement of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 15 E. 97th St., about 12:15 a.m., the FDNY said

The blaze roared for two hours before approximately 100 firefighters brought it under control about 2 a.m., the FDNY said.

Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries, including one for smoke inhalation, an FDNY spokesman said.

The cathedral was built in 1901 to accommodate the influx of Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe, according to its website.