A dramatic scene unfolded on Staten Island's South Shore on Saturday, October 17, 2026, when the FDNY responded to a four-alarm fire at a vacant two-story warehouse. The building sits behind the church on the Mount Loretto grounds at 6581 Hylan Boulevard in Pleasant Plains. Video from the scene shows heavy plumes of smoke rising over the area, multiple ladder trucks, firefighters, and emergency vehicles, with the church's tall spire standing out in the background. The unoccupied storage building is on property tied to Catholic Charities of Staten Island, and the church there, built in 1891, is the tallest building on the island at 225 feet.

The NYPD issued traffic advisories asking drivers to avoid Hylan Boulevard, one of Staten Island's busiest roads, and to use alternate routes such as Page Avenue or Sharrotts Avenue while crews worked. Limited information has been released so far, and the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage, and whether anyone was hurt had not been confirmed in the details available. Because the building was vacant, the main concern for responders was likely containing the fire and protecting nearby structures, including the historic church. The key questions now are what sparked the blaze and what it means for the Mount Loretto property.