A four-alarm fire tore through a row of small businesses at 1234 East Gun Hill Road in Williamsbridge late Thursday night, scorching storefronts and sending thick smoke billowing over the neighborhood. At least one firefighter was treated for minor injuries, and neighbors stood out in the rain into the early hours of Friday, watching crews try to save the block.
Timeline and scale of the response
FDNY officials said the blaze was placed under control at about 2:23 a.m. Friday. According to CBS News, roughly 74 units and more than 230 firefighters and EMS personnel poured into the scene.
The initial call came in just before midnight, and alarms escalated quickly. A second alarm was transmitted at 12:08 a.m., a third at 12:16 a.m., and a fourth at 12:24 a.m., according to Norwood News.
How crews fought the blaze
"When units opened up the store, they encountered fire in the cockloft that had spread across several adjoining stores," Deputy Assistant Chief Paul Miller said, describing the challenge awaiting firefighters once they got inside.
ABC7 reported that crews stretched multiple hose lines and used a cockloft nozzle to get water into the hidden space above the ceilings.
A cockloft, the void between a building's top-floor ceiling and its roof, can let flames race silently over adjoining stores and is often one of the toughest problems in these row-store fires. Tactical materials used by urban fire departments describe the specialized nozzles and roof work needed to chase down those pockets of fire, including guidance shared by Fire Engineering.
Stores damaged and neighborhood reaction
Officials and reporters said the strip, which included a deli, a convenience store, a Chinese restaurant, a salon, a laundromat, storefront churches, a driving school and an insurance office, took heavy damage.
CBS News noted that roughly 11 stores were affected. One salon owner told the outlet her shop had been "a dream" and a primary source of income.
Neighbors described a chaotic scene and voiced concern about the loss of the shops they rely on, Norwood News reported.
Investigation and hydrant access
Fire marshals are working at the scene to determine the cause and map out the pattern of damage, officials said. Investigators have focused on a church in the middle of the block as a possible point of origin, according to ABC7.
Authorities also issued criminal court summonses to the owners of two vehicles that were illegally parked in front of hydrants during the response.
Next steps for businesses and officials
In the coming days, city and business leaders are expected to assess structural damage and insurance needs as firefighters and investigators finish on-site work. FDNY said it will release further updates as the fire marshal's investigation continues.
For now, owners and neighbors face a long cleanup and an uncertain wait while officials sort out what happened on this battered Williamsbridge block.
