A Saturday morning fire at Fane Grocery in the Melrose section of the Bronx sent thick black smoke pouring over the sidewalk and drew a heavy response from the FDNY, as firefighters worked for hours to get the flames under control. Bystander video captured active flames and dense smoke pushing out of the storefront while crews attacked the blaze. Officials said there were no reported injuries, and firefighters stayed on scene into the late morning.
The New York City Fire Department told local media that the blaze triggered a large-scale emergency response, with units remaining on the block as of late morning, according to News 12 New York. The outlet shared bystander footage showing smoke billowing from the sidewalk up along the building's façade. News 12 New York also reported that there were no injuries in the incident.
Store location and records
Business filings list Fane Grocery Inc.'s registered address as 609 Courtlandt Avenue in the Bronx, placing it in the Melrose neighborhood, according to records compiled by NYBizDB. Those filings show the store has held city licenses in recent years for a stoop-line stand and tobacco retailing at that address.
Neighborhood context
Smaller storefront fires have been punching above their weight across the Bronx this winter, turning into sizable operations for firefighters. In early January, a five-alarm deli fire in Claremont injured three people, and officials said parked cars blocking fire hydrants slowed the response, according to NBC New York. That earlier incident underscored how quickly flames can spread on mixed-use blocks when something as basic as hydrant access becomes a problem.
Investigation underway
As of late Saturday, officials had not released additional information on what sparked the Melrose fire, and investigators with the FDNY were still at the scene, News 12 New York reported. Hoodline will continue to track official updates and public statements as they become available.
