by David Greene

An army of firefighters battled a wind-fueled fire that tore through a row of businesses in Mount Hope, destroying at least two stores and at least two other stores suffered extensive damage.  

Officials say the blaze broke out at 10:35 a.m. on Sunday, March 23, inside of Fino’s clothing store at 66-96 East Burnside Avenue, at the corner of Walton Avenue. The fire quickly spread to an adjacent 99-cent store. Flames ripped through the roof of both businesses, with flames engulfing the entire store. Two more stores—a meat store and a fruit market—were also affected.

A plume of black smoke hovered eerily over the Mount Hope neighborhood for the first hour of the blaze, before it dissipated into a white smoke that blended into the approaching clouds.

Fire officials could not confirm, but it appeared that a cell phone store was also destroyed in the 3-alarm blaze.

Nearly 140 firefighters from 33 units fought back the flames and were able to save the nearby Radio Shack, an Amalgamated Bank and a furniture store just opposite from where the fire began.

The blaze was eventually brought under control at 2:27 p.m., but two tower ladders sprayed the smoldering pockets of fire for the rest of the afternoon.

Three firefighter’s suffered minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals.

Fire marshals remain on the scene and continue to investigate the blaze’s origin.