Hawthorne tire shop destroyed by fire; 4 residents displaced and cat missing
Firefighters arrived to find the building engulfed in flames and worked quickly to prevent hundreds of tires from catching fire.
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A tire shop was destroyed in a fire Tuesday morning in Hawthorne, displacing four residents and leaving a cat missing.
The fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. at Hawthorne Tire Center on Goffle Road.
Firefighters arrived to find the building engulfed in flames and worked quickly to prevent hundreds of tires from catching fire.
Crews pulled tires from the building and moved them onto the sidewalk to keep the fire from spreading.
Officials said tires can burn for days once ignited.
The fire was eventually brought under control, though many tires remained inside the building.
Firefighters also monitored potential environmental concerns caused by runoff and fuel oil.
"We were concerned about the hazmat that was caused by fuel oil," Hawthorne Fire Chief Joe Speranza said. "We put booms down as best we could."
Apartments located above the business were affected by the fire.
Four residents were displaced, officials said. One cat remains missing.
Several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, and another firefighter experienced a medical issue, according to the chief. All are expected to be OK.
The building will have to be demolished, Speranza said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
