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Updated 03/22/2009 06:01 PM

Massive Fire Destroys Several Bronx Stores

By: NY1 News

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Several Bronx business owners are picking up the pieces after a three-alarm fire destroyed a row of stores in Westchester Square Sunday morning.

Investigators say the fire broke out shortly after 6 a.m inside a bar and quickly spread to six other businesses, including a coffee shop, a Chinese restaurant and a nail salon.

The owner of the coffee shop says he was inside getting ready to open the store when he smelled smoke and called the police.

"They come, the fire department, they take everybody out, he told me, I say the fire is there, he told me kiss your store goodbye, I almost get a heart attack," said Michael Androu, a business owner.

Massive Fire Destroys Several Bronx Stores

"I was completely stunned how a fire can erupt that fast," said another business owner.

"It's a big loss, it's a big loss. You have the flower shop, you have the army recruiting, you have different things in here that were good to the community, good services to the community," said one resident.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries. No one else was hurt.

Officials are still investigating the cause but say it may have been an electrical fire.