Steinway Street Store Destroyed In Blaze

Photo Tony Barsamian Smoke pours from Cellular Mall, 28-25 Steinway St., as firefighters get ready to battle the fire, which went to two alarms, last Friday, January 4.

A fire in a commercial building at 28-25 Steinway St. last Friday injured one civilian and seven firefighters and destroyed a cellular phone store and a jewelry store that shared space with it as well as leaving the families that occupied the apartments above homeless.

The blaze broke out on the first floor at Cellular Mall at about noon. Fire Department sources said the fire was called in at 12:28 p.m., went to two alarms at nine minutes to 1 p.m. and was brought under control at two minutes past 2 p.m. At the height of the blaze, 106 firefighters and 25 pieces of equipment battled the flames and smoke. The injured civilian refused medical attention; four firefighters were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens and three others to Booth Memorial Hospital. None of their injuries were serious.

The staff at Central Astoria Local Development Coalition, with offices next door to the site of the fire, was evacuated and kept out of the building for some three hours, Marie Torniali, CALDC executive director, said. "The Cellular Mall building was totally destroyed," she said. "Our offices weren't damaged, but the firefighters kept us out while they checked on the roof for hot spots and made sure the fire was out. I'm glad no one was seriously hurt, but I feel sorry for the people who lost their home."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.