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An early morning fire devastated seven stores in Norwood today. -Photo by Citizen App

By Dan Gesslein &

David Greene

Bronx Voice

October 10, 2023

BRONX - Store owners in the Bronx were left picking through the pieces of what was left of their businesses after an early morning fire gutted seven stores in Norwood.  

FDNY officials said the fire broke out at around 4 am starting at Bainbridge Avenue and East 204th Street. It quickly spread to the other attached stores which included an Italian market, a halal store, a bakery and a Mexican grocery store. 

The hollowed out remains of stores on Bainbridge Avenue after a fire gutted the roof and interiors of the stores. -Photo by David Greene

One firefighter was injured while battling the early morning blaze. 

The Bronx Voice was on hand as shop owner looked on the charred remains of their businesses. An aerial view shows the roof of the connecting businesses completely burned away leaving charred wood that collapsed into the stores.

Merchants look on the devastated remains of their businesses after an early morning fire gutted seven stores in Norwood. -Photo by David Greene

“It was a 100 x 100 what we call a ‘taxpayer.’ On arrival units found heavy fire throughout the structure,” said FDNY Assistant John Sarrocco. “We started an interior attack. Unfortunately due to structural stability concerns, we had to pull our units out and did a tower ladder operation. At the present time we have one minor injury to a firefighter and currently it’s under investigation, the fire is under investigation.”

"What happens in a fire like this is the space between the top of the ceiling and the roof system called the cockloft area and when the fire gets into that area it spreads exponentially throughout the building,” Sarrocco said.

What to Know about Suicide and How to Help Someone in Crisis

NEW YORK - September was Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Between 2021 and 2022, suicide in the US increased by 2.6% with 49,500 people dying by suicide in 2022.  

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Community leaders said this the second time the fire has devastated this row of stores. Around Halloween in 2009 the entire row of stores was burned down and had to be rebuilt. 

Fire officials are investigating the cause of today’s blaze.

Developing….