Officials said the flames began around 2:30 p.m. inside a laundromat on East Suffolk Avenue in Central Islip and quickly spread through the connected row of stores. Thick smoke could be seen from blocks away as the businesses collapsed into smoldering debris.
"It's just so heartbreaking. All the jobs that are lost. The income to Central Islip and the county that desperately, desperately needs it," eyewitness Stephen Hugues said. "People's livelihoods. People own those stores. They're gone."
Customers said the laundromat, which had operated for 20 years, served as a community hub and offered free washing, drying, soap or bleach on certain days. "Yeah, so it's going to be missed," one resident said.
The business also housed a small cell phone and electronics shop, according to longtime customer Liz Stenson. "You go in, there's tables, chairs, there's ATM, games," she said. When asked whether the laundromat offered a lot, she replied, "Yes."
Firefighters from dozens of departments across Suffolk County responded to help the Central Islip Fire Department battle the blaze in sweltering heat. "Tired, we're tired. Most of the guys are tired," Central Islip Fire Chief Joe Vereline said. "Fortunately we have a lot of people here supporting us giving us the relief we need."
It took more than five hours to bring the fire under control. Vereline said at least five firefighters and one police officer suffered minor injuries.
Residents who gathered near the scene said they were devastated for the business owners and employees. "Great, wonderful people - the store owners, the clerks," one person said.
The Suffolk County Police Arson Squad is investigating the cause of the fire.