But above one of the stores -- there was an apartment where William Sandoval woke up the smell of smoke.
"I look out the window, I see the fire, I smell smoke...I take my two kids now I'm left with no place to go," Sandoval said.
About 200 firefighters from 10 departments responded to the four-alarm fire. In all nine stores were either completely destroyed or sustained smoke and water damage. One firefighter suffered minor injuries during the four hours it took to finally bring the blaze under control.
A Long Beach fire spokesman says one firefighter suffered a minor injury.
Meantime, merchants are wondering if and when they'll be able to be rebuild.
"I'm very sad....what can I say, I lost my hair salon," one merchant said.
The fire may have started in a roof air conditioning unit. Fire Marshals will continue to investigate to determine the exact cause.
NEW YORK AND TRI-STATE AREA NEWS
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