Fire closes Great Neck Plaza synagogue, officials say

A fire that broke out in a Great Neck Plaza synagogue on Wednesday evening rendered it closed, Nassau fire officials said.

The Great Neck Vigilant Fire Department responded to a call regarding "heavy smoke" in a two-story synagogue on Cuttermill Road about 8:48 p.m., Nassau County Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Andrew Schmitt Jr. said in a news release. The fire department discovered a fire in a crawl space under the stairs in the house of worship.

Those inside the synagogue at the time of the fire self evacuated, and no injuries were reported, Schmitt said. The fire was deemed under control within a half hour.

"Due to the fire and smoke damage the Synagogue will be closed, this was the decision at the time of the press release," Schmitt said. "More information will be sent out when received."

About 75 firefighters, including members of the Great Neck Alert, Manhasset-Lakeville and New Hyde Park fire departments, responded to the scene, according to the fire marshal’s release. Local building department officials also responded.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Nassau County Police Department Arson/Bomb Squad are investigating the cause of the fire.

The address listed in Schmitt’s release matches that on the website of the Ahavat Shalom Synagogue. Officials at the house of worship could not immediately be reached late Wednesday.