FDNY: Multiple Businesses Destroyed In Massive Bronx 5-Alarm Fire
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The FDNY says seven businesses were destroyed in a massive early morning fire in the Bronx.
The fire broke out at a building just before 5:30 a.m. in the area of 194th Street at Marion Avenue and quickly grew to five-alarms.
Residents across the street woke up the smell of smoke, running outside to flames shooting out of the roof of Spin City Laundromat.
"Look like gas blow up, like 'boom' in the laundry store," said resident Tuan Nguyen. "The first thing I hear that and after that I saw the roof -- fire start coming up."
We spoke with the owner of this laundromat now gutted by fire where residents tell us there heard a loud boom & saw a burst of flames at 530a #Bronx @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/WHx3ESIrCG
— Lisa Rozner (@LisaRoznerTV) April 24, 2018
"It started at the laundromat then extended to the pizza restaurant, then the barber shop, then the hair dresser, then the takeout-only Chinese restaurant," said resident Elonzo McMiller.
The FDNY said when crews arrived, there was heavy fire and smoke from all seven businesses spanning the block.
It does not appear anyone was inside when the fire started. Firefighters evacuated nearby buildings out of an abundance of caution.
"We had to make sure we protected the apartment building from fire and smoke, make sure all these people get out," Chief of Department James Leonard said.
In a post on Facebook, Leonard said the building was "totally destroyed."
"Upon arrival we had heavy fire conditions, heavy smoke conditions in all seven stores. As you can see, the building is...
Posted by New York City Fire Department (FDNY) on Tuesday, April 24, 2018
"We have a total loss of a building and seven businesses have lost their building," he said.
The FDNY said it took almost four hours and more than 200 firefighters to bring the blaze under control. They are now investigating whether it started in the laundromat and how.
#FDNY members continue operating on scene of a 5-alarm fire at 316 E 194 St. in the #Bronx. The fire is now under control. pic.twitter.com/HreVJOponk
— FDNY (@FDNY) April 24, 2018
The store's owner says he just purchased the business one year ago and things were starting to pick up.
"It's devastating and my father's worked very hard for that business," owner Ruben Guerrero said. "Of course there's always insurance but you never really know if that's going to be enough to rebuild."
Firefighters say a supermarket at the end of the block has heavy smoke damage but is salvageable.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital.