Multiple Families Displaced After Wash Heights Church Fire: Red Cross

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY - The cause of a Monday afternoon church fire that displaced multiple families in Washington Heights is under investigation, officials said.

The fire at La Iglesia de Dios de la Profecía at 2089 Amsterdam Ave. between West 163rd and 164th streets broke out on the first floor around noon, fire officials told Patch.

12 units, including 60 fire and medical personnel, responded to the five-story building, fire officials said.

The blaze was placed under control about an hour later. No injuries were reported.

Citizen reports fire officials deemed the fire suspicious in nature and the FDNY’s Arson Unit is investigating.

Though it wasn’t immediately clear how many people were affected or displaced, the Greater Red Cross of New York said it provided emergency housing to “multiple” families following the Amsterdam Avenue fire.

If the fire sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Firefighters battled another first-floor fire at the same church in 2015, which also displaced at least one family and was deemed suspicious in nature.

That fire originated between the church’s roll down security gate and the front door, sources told the New York Daily News.