Some store owners were in tears as they picked up what remained of their life’s dream, their means for survival.
Co-owners of Best Cell Wireless, Vlad Leviyev and Roman Yagudayev, were still stunned and speechless as they surveyed the damage on Tuesday, May 25. Yagudayev said that they are definitely rebuilding after their loss.
At 8:35 p.m. on Sunday, May 23, the Fire Department (FDNY) received a call from a pedestrian reporting a fire on 99th Street and 66th Avenue in Rego Park.
One hundred sixty firefighters responded to the scene, and the blaze, which went to four-alarms, was placed under control at 11:10 p.m. However, not before the flames gutted as many as 10 stores, including two food markets and a laundromat. According to FDNY officials, 12 firefighters were treated for minor injuries by Emergency Medical Service workers following the cave-in of the roof.
“I was shocked [when I saw the fire],” said Emanuel Alayev, 19, who lives across the street.
According to the Fire Department, the cause of the inferno was attributed to overloaded extension cords in the laundry drop-off area.
Irina Elnatanova, who works at Elina Consulting Company, said that she had been in business at the location for five years, but now she is picking up pieces of her life. Elnatanova added that all of her paperwork and everything in her office had burned except for a green plant.
Neighborhood residents and store owners expressed concern for the stores workforce.
“A lot of the employees are immigrants,” said Paul Kim, of Paul Sunshine Cleaners. “Where would they go?”
Other residents lamented the interruption to their routines. Vera, who gave no last name, said that she frequented many of the shops affected, and now she will have to travel further for her groceries.
