Large fire burns through almost a dozen businesses in Williamsbridge, Bronx

A large fire in the Bronx destroyed numerous businesses overnight as dozens of first responders rushed to get the flames under control. 

The blaze broke out just before midnight Friday at a strip mall at 1234 East Gun Hill Rd. in the Williamsbridge section.

It grew into a massive four-alarm response, engulfing the row of businesses. Flames spread through the cockloft, which is the space between the roof and the ceiling.

Glass and debris were scattered across the sidewalk along the road where the fire burned through the buildings. Officials said 11 stores were affected, including a deli, cleaners and a discount store.

At least six of the storefronts were being checked for hotspots Friday evening. 

Devastated business owners

The fire damage was a heartbreaking sight for Nicholas Aklassou, who called his printing business his life. 

He's been running his company, Solid Rock Multigraphics Inc., most of the time since moving to the U.S. from Ghana in the mid-1980s. It's his family's main source of income. 

"Just imagine, 29 years of my life. That's almost half. Half wasted," Aklassou said. 

Pastor Reuben Adoah drove two hours from his Pennsylvania home to survey the damage at Eagle's Nest International Chapel. He asked parishioners to send prayers. 

"Nobody was here, nobody got hurt. So that's good. We'll take it from there," Adoah said. "We can't come back here on Sunday, so we have to agree on what to do." 

Losing "a staple of the community"

A salon owner named Nisha Michilin said her business, which was destroyed, was her dream and that she'll struggle to tell her employees they can't return to work. 

"Over three years I've had this alone. It was a dream of mine, you know, it's been a long-time dream, and it's been my income," she said.

Michilin said she first opened her business in the Bronx neighborhood during the COVID pandemic. 

"This is a staple of the community. Everybody is out here trying to figure out what's the next move, if it's savable, if we're gonna rebuild," she said. "If they say we can rebuild, definitely, I would want to." 

Dawn Betancourt, the manager of Colwell's Driving School, said the business has been in the Bronx for 65 years. 

"I really don't know what happened. It's heartbreaking, and as long as nobody got hurt," she said. "It's gonna be very difficult. We have a lot of instructors and a lot of students."

More than 200 emergency personnel respond

In total, 74 FDNY units and more than 230 first responders were at the scene. Officials said two firefighters had minor injuries and were taken to a hospital.

The fire was brought under control just before 2:30 a.m., almost three hours after it started. 

Department of Buildings officials issued a vacate order for the entire structure. Fire marshals are working to determine what caused the fire.

Officials said it could take some time before the business owners are allowed back inside as the investigation continues. 

In the meantime, the small businesses are getting some assistance from the city's small business services.