Central Islip fire spreads through strip mall, damaging several stores
Firefighters from multiple departments battle a fire at a Central Islip strip mall Friday. Credit: Thomas Hengge
About 300 firefighters from multiple departments battled a fire Friday afternoon that tore through several businesses at a strip mall on East Suffolk Avenue in Central Islip.
Standing on the sidewalk, business owners watched their stores fill with flames and smoke.
Jose Rivera, 52 from Brentwood, said the fire started out small in a laundromat next door to his barber shop, Jose’s Haircutting.
“The fire started very small, then the fire department came,” Rivera said while watching the smoke billow. “I don’t know if they were too slow, but once they sprayed water the fire started to spread.”
Joe Vereline, Central Islip Fire Chief said two people, a police officer and a firefighter, were hospitalized with minor injuries. Asked about the rapid spread of the fire, he said "It’s an old building" but he added the cause is still under investigation. He said firefighters were at the blaze within four minutes of the call.
Several businesses, some chains, such as a CVS and T-Mobile, and some locally owned, were impacted either by flames or smoke or both.
Naj Shairzai, 65, Brentwood, was about to open a fried food restaurant in the strip. “I will have to wait to open another two to three months,” Shairzai said. “I don’t know what is going to happen next.”
Newsday's Nicholas Grasso contributed to this story.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 37: Long Island championships On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg has a roundup of the Long Island championships played this weekend, and Jared Valuzzi has the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 37: Long Island championships On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg has a roundup of the Long Island championships played this weekend, and Jared Valuzzi has the plays of the week.
