20 birds, other animals killed and multiple businesses destroyed in Valley Stream fire
The Nassau County Fire Marshal is investigating, but the cause of the fire does not appear suspicious at this time.
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Several small business owners are picking up the pieces today after a two-alarm fire damaged a barber shop and two other stores in Valley Stream last night.
The Valley Stream Fire Department said the fire started at 539 West Merrick Rd., just after 9 p.m.
50 firefighters battled heavy smoke and flames. They were able to get the fire under control in about 45 minutes.
Ben Karshigiyev owns Ben & Tony's Barber Shop, which has been a community staple for the last 22 years.
While no people were injured, the Nassau County Fire Marshal's office said almost 20 birds, an unknown number of fish and possibly turtles all perished in the fire last night.
Karshigiyev said they were rescues and pets.
"I jumped in a car and headed this way as fast as I could," he said. "I wanted to save my birds. I had parakeets, parrots here, unfortunately, I lost all of them."
Nextdoor, the longstanding shoe repair shop was also damaged. Ceiling tiles were on the floor, shoe boxes were tossed around and glass was smashed around the store.
"Devastating, man," employee Don Campbell said. "There were a lot of firetrucks over here and the place was on fire."
On the other side was Junior's Juice Bar & Jerk Pit, a lifelong dream of Dwayne Smith and his wife. Smith said the couple had spent the last four years preparing to open the shop, but now the back of the house is destroyed and their plan is on hold.
"Devastating, heartbreaking, just our family dream," Smith said. "To come in and see this happening, I'm just heartbroken."
The Nassau County Fire Marshal's office is investigating this morning, though they have initially deemed the fire non-suspicious.
Karshigiyev told News 12 he believes it was electrical.
