Investigators are trying to find out what sparked a massive fire at a historic orthodox Jewish synagogue on the Lower East Side.
Streets in the area remain blocked off as firefighters work on putting out hot spots.
More than 100 firefighters battled the three-alarm blaze at the historic Beth Hamedrash Hagodol on 64 Norfolk Street.
Fire officials say flames broke out around 7 p.m. The fire was brought under control a little less than three hours later.
Several firefighters suffered minor injuries.
The Gothic structure was originally built in 1850 as a Baptist church.
It later served as synagogue for the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Orthodox Jewish congregation for over 120 years ago. The synagogue was closed in 2007.
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Smoky 3-alarm fire breaks out at historic Lower East Side synagogue
Monday, May 15, 2017 12:52AM
LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Smoke could be seen from miles away when a synagogue on the Lower East Side erupted into flames on Sunday.
More than 100 firefighters battled the three-alarm blaze at the historic Beth Hamedrash Hagodol on 64 Norfolk Street. The vicious flames were unforgiving.
Fire officials say flames broke out around 7 p.m.
The good news is that the synagogue was vacant for a decade, and no one was injured. Firefighters were faced with challenges, though. They arrived at the scene within four minutes, but they had to quickly pull out from inside.
"The roof collapsed, so we mounted an exterior attack, so the whole operation was an exterior attack," says Assistant Chief Thomas Mckavanagh.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.