A raging fire in Yonkers threatened to engulf a nearly 260-year-old church late Thursday night into Friday morning.

The flames burned several businesses, including a dollar store and McDonald's in Getty Square. The fire would have spread to the historic St. John's Episcopal Church next door if it weren't for some hard work by firefighters.

Crews say they created what they call "a wall of water" using several hoses atop their tallest ladder between the church and the dollar store to stop the blaze from spreading.

The church did sustain heavy smoke damage, but the pastor of St. John's is counting his blessings.

"I'm basically breathing a half-sigh of relief. I have to go get someone out here to look at the church. We're very worried about the smoke. They opened the side of the church to address the fire and so a lot of smoke made it into the church that could cause a lot of damage," says Father John Hamilton.

Church leaders say their goal is to get the doors of the church open so they can air it out and then get the doors back open so they can continue their work of serving the community.

The church's harvest festival this weekend and Mass services will go on as scheduled.