Five persons were injured and eight buildings destroyed in a seven-alarm fire on Saturday night in the Liberty Avenue section of Queens, New York where many Guyanese have businesses and reside.
NBC New York said that the fire started late Saturday at an Ace Caribbean Market on Liberty Street in Richmond Hill and quickly raced through 13 buildings. Eight of the buildings were severely burned, fire officials said.
The cold, windy weather caused the fire to spread, said the NY Fire Department’s James Leonard. The fire isn’t believed to be suspicious.
Five people — two firefighters and three civilians — were hurt, fire officials said. One was taken to an area hospital, and two others refused medical attention. A 60-year-old woman was taken to Jamaica Hospital with minor smoke inhalation, police said.
Displaced residents crowded into a nearby Kennedy Fried Chicken, watching as smoke wafted out of charred windows, the report said.
Authorities said that 40 residents have been displaced and are all being taken care of by the Red Cross.
About 250 firefighters and emergency medical service employees were at the scene, fire officials said.
