Queens, NY – A two-alarm fire ransacked two Vernon Blvd. apartments Friday afternoon in Long Island City, forcing two small businesses to close and ruining a 5-year-old girl’s birthday party, according to witnesses.
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The fire was discovered at about 1:30 p.m. No civilians were injured, but witnesses said some firefighters left the scene and appeared to be suffering from smoke inhalation.
Fire officials could not immediately confirm that there were injuries to firefighters.
Rabbi Zev Wineberg and his wife, Rivka, were throwing a birthday bash for their daughter, Muka Hadassah, and eight of her young friends around 1:30 p.m. at Chabad of Long Island City-Astoria, the rabbi’s rented storefront synagogue and home, which sits above the New City Restaurant, a Chinese food business located at 47-31 Vernon Blvd.
Esther Lebovic, the rabbi’s sister-in-law, said she and the family were setting up for the party when they started smelling smoke.
“We smelled smoke for a while and we thought it was coming from the oven because we were cooking, but then we opened the oven and there was no smoke inside and we heard a guy outside screaming, ‘It’s coming from the next house!’” Lebovic said, standing on the sidewalk with friends and children who attended the party.
The family quickly escorted the children from the building and called 911 and later called the children’s parents and some family friends, Lebovic said. Lori, Friends of the Winebergs came to the scene along with firemen to help, Lebovic said.
Firefighters located the source of the blaze in an apartment above Yee’s Vernon Market Deli and Grocery at 47-35 Vernon Blvd., which was closed down because of water and smoke damage.
The neighboring New City Restaurant suffered heavy damage as well and was closed Friday.
Firefighters had no comment on the blaze at the scene, which was still under investigation.
No one was hurt & a birthday party can be rescheduled.