Steinway St. Fire Damages Restaurants And Store
BY LIZ GOFF AND DAN MILLER

Photos Vinny DuPre El Basurero, a restaurant at 32-30 Steinway St., was heavily damaged when a fire broke out early Monday morning,

A row of stores on Steinway Street sustained heavy damage in an early morning fire on January 1. According to Fire Department sources, the stores, El Basurero, a restaurant, Optima Beauty Supply and Ritmos 60, a nightclub, all of which are listed as sharing 32-20 Steinway St. as their address, were damaged when a fire described as fast moving, smoky and stubborn broke out in the restaurant.

The fire went to one alarm before it was brought under control. No one in the three establishments was injured, as all were unoccupied at the time, but three New York City firefighters sustained minor injuries and were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens. Two of the firefighters were treated and released; the other was released the following day, January 2.

George Morales, the owner of the Restaurant, said he was told that a Christmas tree had caught fire and ignited upholstery on nearby chairs. Morales owns El Basurero, Ritmos 60 and several other restaurants. The buildings were without power and late on Tuesday afternoon workers could be seen removing food from Ritmos 60 so it could be refrigerated at some of Morales’ other businesses. El Basurero appeared to be gutted and Optima Beauty Supply and Ritmos 60 suffered smoke and water damage.

The interior of El Basurero sustained heavy damage from the fire.

The owners of Optima Beauty Supply said they were contacted by their alarm company at about 8 a.m. on January 1 and told that the alarm at the store had gone off. Some 15 minutes later they were called by police, who asked them to come to the store to open the security gates for firefighters. They got to the store some 15 minutes after the call, only to find that firefighters had already broken open the gates to gain access to the building and fight the fire. They were told that the fire was caused by electrical problems in the ceiling.