Back in 63 my church in Manhattan burned. While maybe i/20th the size, one eight sq block, the Church of the Epiphany was modeleled after Notre Dame with twin bell towers. The FDNY struggled all night but the roof collapsed, then the walls, then the towers. It was heartbreaking. The FDNY were on the scene and fighting the fire in less than five minutes. To no avail
Several years ago A church in my community burned. Build in the late 1800, heavy timber. Fire supposedly stared in the basement, and quickly made it up the wall cavity was a straight shot to the roof with massive old wooden beams everywhere. At that point it was a surround and drown operation and try to save the newer attached additions.
As with most church fires, the original building was a total loss. They are usually old, very unlikely to be sprinkled and unless caught and extinguished with a few minutes no FD can throw enough water at it to save.