Fire destroys Islip Terrace Italian ice store

Police and fire officials are investigating the cause of an early morning fire that destroyed a Carleton Avenue store Monday in Islip Terrace.

The fire ravaged Cherry's Italian Ice at 79 Carleton Ave., a Suffolk County police spokeswoman said.

No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported at 2:01 a.m. and closed Carleton between Richard and Irving.

The spokeswoman said that the cause of the fire is undetermined but that it does not appear to be suspicious. "It appears to be noncriminal in nature," she said.

Suffolk County's Arson Squad is investigating, she said.

Volunteers from nine fire departments -- Islip Terrace, Islip, East Islip, Central Islip, Brentwood, East Brentwood, Kings Park, Smithtown and Nesconset -- all battled the fire, bringing it under control at 3:09 a.m., fire officials said.

Three ambulance companies, including Central Islip Ambulance, Islip Exchange Ambulance and Brentwood Ambulance, also responded.

With Gary Dymski