April 10th, 2025
On Thursday morning, March 13th, at 8:30 AM, rescuers responded to a sizeable four-alarm fire that sent six Bronx businesses up in flames at a strip mall in University Heights. The first call came from a business on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx.┬áThe four-alarm fire rapidly escalated to a five-alarm fire. The companies involved included a deli, Bronx Optical, a pharmacy, and several restaurants. Rescuers faced challenges during the event, involving a car parked in front of a fire hydrant, which delayed access to water. Authorities issued a summons to the vehicle owner. According to the FDNY, the fire began in a restaurant’s cockloft (combustible concealed space) and spread rapidly to neighboring businesses.
Unfortunately, six storefronts were destroyed, which marks the second time the owners have experienced such destruction. The first occurred five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic due to looting. Firefighters spent hours containing the fire and extinguishing all hotspots. Even though no injuries were reported, the blaze still devastated the community by leaving many workers unemployed. The owner of Finest Deli first saw flames coming from the restaurant behind his store. He attempted to extinguish the fire but failed, viewing helplessly as flames tore through his business. Now, several small business owners must start from scratch to rebuild. They all plan to restart their companies soon.
Risk Logic can help protect your restaurant business. Our team offers testing, inspections, and maintenance for specific extinguishing and fire sprinkler systems. RLI also assesses accessibility to fire protection equipment. Our experienced engineers can provide expert guidance on automatic fire protection systems for industrial cooking equipment, following all relevant NFPA recommendations. Contact us today to plan a property loss prevention survey for your strip mall, restaurant, or business.
