'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

The fire quickly spread to four other buildings, including apartments. The Red Cross says at least 40 people are now homeless.

Faith Graham, Nadia Galindo and News 12 Staff

May 2, 2024, 10:04 AM

Updated 156 days ago

Share:

A large fire has destroyed a supermarket and left dozens homeless on Bushwick Avenue, officials say.
The FDNY says the fire started at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the corner of Bushwick Avenue and Cooper Street where Christa's Kitchen once stood. The fire started inside Christa's Kitchen while customers were inside.
"It's sad that we lost something good," says John Valasquez, a resident of the area.
The fire quickly spread to four other buildings, including apartments. The Red Cross says at least 55 people are now homeless.
"For us, it was just two, three doors away... and now it's gone," says Alex Rosario, Bushwick resident.
Rosario's home was spared, but his neighbors weren't so lucky. "Our neighbors were crying. It's a neighborhood where we know each other. And one of our friend's dog died in this."
More than 250 firefighters rushed to the scene. In total, six firefighters and one person were hurt. They're all expected to be OK.
Officials say the challenge now is the structural stability of the buildings following hours of burning and firefighting.
The area of Bushwick Avenue and Cooper Street is still shut down so delays are expected.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.