At least three people, including two firefighters, were hurt when a massive fire erupted at a neighborhood deli in the Bronx early Monday, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The FDNY says the fire broke out at Deli Grocery Inc., a first-floor business in a mixed-use building on Findlay Avenue, between Teller Avenue and East 170th Street in Claremont, around 3:15 a.m.
Within 90 minutes, it escalated to five alarms, escalating the emergency response to the mixed-use building.
Injuries were said to be minor. The fire is believed to have started on the first floor, which houses the deli. The fire ultimately extended through all floors of the building.
Vehicles parked in front of fire hydrants delayed the response, Chief of Department John Esposito said.
“We had three cars parked on three different fire hydrants which delayed our operation. We had a little bit of an ice condition but the biggest issue was those blocked fire hydrants,” Esposito said. “Our firefighters are very good but it does delay us.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how much the parked cars delayed the response. They were ticketed and towed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
