Fire breaks out at BP gas station in Islandia, adjacent building destroyed

The fire broke out at the station located on Veterans Highway.

News 12 Staff

Apr 20, 2022, 1:10 PM

Updated 905 days ago

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Officials say a massive fire destroyed a family-owned BP gas station in Islandia.
The fire broke out at the station located on Veterans Highway.
The manager of the station tells News 12 that the business has been family-owned for the last 30 years and says it was heartbreaking to see it burn to the ground.
"To see your dreams go up in flames is Earth-shattering," says Maya Kisla, owner of the BP station.
Kevin McAteer, of the Central Islip Fire Department, says the call came in at 8:31 a.m. Fire departments from Hauppauge, Central Islip, East Brentwood, Nesconset and Lakeland responded to the scene.
News 12 was told by the store manager that no one was injured and the three mechanics and an attendant inside the building at the time were able to safely get out.
"They were trying to manage the flames themselves," Kisla says. "We have a lot of fire extinguishers on site, but the extinguishers themselves weren't enough to contain the flames."
McAteer says the incident could have been much worse if not for the quick response.
"We were able to get water on the fire fast enough and cool it down before it exploded," McAteer says.
McAteer said this is an ongoing investigation, but they believe a mechanical issue within the shop may have caused it.
News 12 spoke with workers at a neighboring Dunkin' who were so worried about a potential explosion that they evacuated their building until firefighters said it was safe to return.
Kisla says her family was one of the only places with power during Superstorm Sandy and they helped the community get through that tough time. She says she hopes the community will be there to support them.