Firefighters responded to 150-17 Liberty Ave. around 5:15 p.m.
The fire started in the rear of a two-story tire shop where flames were seen billowing 20 feet into the air.
Part of the building and roof collapsed.
The fire was so hot that the tires inside the building melted, firefighters said.
A resident said he felt the heat of the fire from across the street.
The workers inside the building all got out safely, firefighters said.
Firefighters were concerned about the fire spreading from the melting tires.
The firefighters were knee deep in foam, which firefighters used to try and smother the fire.
"As tires start to melt, the liquid that they create then starts to burn, which necessitates us to use the foam to extinguish," said FDNY Acting Chief of Department John Esposito. "The number of tires they had stacked up was considerable."
Nearly 200 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene, and placed the fire under control just before 9 p.m.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury.
NotifyNYC is advising nearby residents to close all windows during the heaviest periods of smoke.
FDNY Fire Marshals are investigating the cause.
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