Large, separate fires burn through Bronx building, home

A Bronx building was destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning, with the brutally cold temperatures proving to be a major challenge for firefighters.

Just after 4 a.m., flames ripped through a three-story building on Adee Avenue and White Plains Road in the Allerton section of the borough, the FDNY said. The blaze quickly grew to four alarms, with more than 200 firefighters and EMS personnel responding.

The building had a bodega and an auto shop on the ground floor and multiple apartments upstairs. FDNY officials said the residents upstairs self-evacuated and there were no serious injuries.

The fire was under control by about 7 a.m., but the frigid temperatures did not make things easy for firefighters.

"Some of the challenges in this cold weather when the water leaves our hose lines, it freezes immediately on the pavement. Couple of slips and falls already," FDNY Chief of Operation Kevin Woods said. "We did have some problems with frozen hydrants. We were lucky to have a hydrant right in front of that fire building that was not frozen. But in the surrounding area, we had many frozen hydrants."

Neighbors lament loss of popular corner store

Neighbors said they smelled smoke and then saw the flames.

"My son said, 'Oh my god, mommy, our favorite neighborhood store is on fire.' I said, 'You've got to be kidding me.' We both looked out the window and everything was just set ablaze," Maribel Pena said. "I'm just really happy that nobody got hurt, but I'm definitely distraught."

"That's a very popular corner store. Everybody comes to that store, so I was shocked to see that. I'm still shocked," added a woman named Roselyn, who works nearby.

Fire marshals spent the day investigating the cause of the blaze.

The Red Cross said two residents of the apartments upstairs reached out for assistance and were helped with temporary lodging.

FDNY also battles house fire in Throggs Neck

More than 140 firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire just before 2 a.m. at a home near Shore Drive and Lafayette Avenue in the  Throggs Neck section.

Four minor injuries were reported, with two firefighters and one other person going to the hospital.

Crews were able to get the blaze under control just before 6 a.m.