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by C.J. SULLIVAN
An off-duty firefighter saved Easter for parishioners at a Queens church yesterday, hurdling over pews to help put out a blaze that sent hundreds fleeing.
What began as a joyous celebration at St. Teresa's Church on 50th Avenue in Sunnyside quickly became a chaotic scene when thick black plumes of smoke began billowing out of the sacristy behind the altar as the priest was giving his homily.
Off-duty firefighter Kenny O'Connor immediately leaped over rows of pews and charged into the back room armed with only a fire extinguisher, while the nearly 500 parishioners rushed for the doors.
"I went into the room, and the smoke was from the ceiling to three feet off the floor," said O'Connor, 35, of Engine Co. 43 in The Bronx.
"I got down on all fours to make sure no one was in there. It was all training.
"You don't even think about responding — you just do it."
The eight-year veteran found the source of the smoke — a plate of smoldering incense that fire officials say may have set ablaze a curtain in the room at about 12:30 p.m.
O'Connor's father, Ken, said later, "I couldn't figure out what was going on, and then Kenny jumped into it."
The proud father said his son instructed him to call 911 while Kenny rushed toward the flames with his brother, Chris, and their pal Anthony Ross close behind.
"We couldn't see anything," said Chris O'Connor, 29.
"Kenny took total charge of the situation and kept a level head."
Ross, 33, said he was shocked to see the flames.
"It was the last thing you expect — a fire in church on Easter," he said.
Kenny O'Connor said he did what he could with the extinguisher, then closed the door.
"The fire was too hot for the fire extinguisher to get all the flames," he said.
Four fire engines arrived moments later to douse the rest of the small fire.
The flames were put out only a few minutes later.
"He did a great job containing the fire," said a grateful Monsignor Denis Herron of Kenny, adding that flames erupted during his homily.
"Thank God no one was injured," he said.
The church sustained extensive smoke damage.
The two sacristy rooms were severely damaged by the flames.
"It was fortunate there were people in the church at the time of the fire," said Deputy Fire Chief Steven Kubler. "Because had they locked up the church and the fire burned for a few hours, it would have done a lot of damage."
Kubler also praised O'Connor's quick thinking.
"He did a stellar job containing the fire," Kubler said.
Herron said the near-disaster would not dampen his parishioners' spirits, and he expects to reopen the doors of the 55-year-old church today.
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