Watch As Firefighters Battle Blaze At Historic Church In Upstate New York

Thank you to the men and women who bravely fought this dangerous fire. We appreciate the selfless work you all do. This is a breaking news story; if we learn more about what caused the fire, we'll share it.

Firefighters in Albany were called Thursday night after the Elijah Missionary Baptist Church on Second Avenue caught fire around 10:30 p.m.

Dangerous Blaze Challenged Albany's Bravest

According to reports from Sidewinder Photography, who was on the scene at the time, firefighters battled low visibility and crashing debris as they attempted to extinguish the blaze at the historic church.

Sidewinder explained that firefighters began opening a window, and a "crash occurred inside the church down into the main floor."

While the firefighters were backing out of the building, Sidewinder reports that "the fire blew through the Delta side of the roof and began to push heavy smoke through it. Firefighters took a defensive operation on the scene until the early morning."

City officials will inspect the church on Friday morning and decide whether it should be torn down.

Albany Mayor Devastated

According to News 10 ABC, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan highlighted the historic church's importance and connection to the community.

“We’re here at a church that has been a place of celebration. It has been a place of sorrow. It has been a bedrock corner of this community. It is devastating to see a church that is not only historic but also such an important part of the community fully in flames,” she told the news station.