Bronx Fire Destroys 14 Businesses

A five alarm fire broke out in a Bronx strip mall just before 3am in a store at 3105 Bainbridge Avenue near 204th Street. The fire spread quickly, and thirteen more stores were engulfed. Only one business was open at the time the fire broke out and everyone got out safely.

According to the Daily News, the blaze - the second since April at the shopping center - devastated the owners of Bainbridge Bakery and Pastry and destroyed every business in the block-long shopping center.

The roof and the front wall of the building collapsed as nearly 200 firefighters battled intense flames that illuminated the pre-dawn sky for five hours.

Four firefighters were treated for bumps and bruises according to the fire department.

Because the building was built using fire codes from the 1800’s, the fire was able to spread in a compartment above the ceiling and below the roof.