A raging fire engulfed four businesses and a three-story apartment building early Monday in Westchester as dozens of firefighters struggled to get the blaze under control.
The fire started in the basement of Sal's Deli on Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon before 1 a.m. and quickly spread to other parts of the building. Video from the scene shows flames shooting high into the air.
"Upon arrival we had tremendous smoke pushing out intense heat in the basement and it ran right across the roof into the other stores," Deputy Chief Tom Duffy said.
The fire burned through two apartments in the residential structure, causing it to collapse in less than an hour, firefighters said. Four tenants in those apartments were able to escape without injuries.
No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters said the blaze was hard to reach because of the roll tin roof on top of the four commercial structures. In all, 37 firefighters from departments across the area were on hand to fight the conflagration.
The fire was smoldering and appeared to be under control by 6 a.m.
Local
The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known.
