Authorities investigate ‘suspicious’ Inwood fire

An early-morning fire on Dec. 30 that destroyed two Inwood businesses has been ruled suspicious by authorities investigating the cause of the blaze.

The fire began at 3:06 a.m. at the Bayview Mini Mart, 414 Bayview Ave., and spread to the adjacent Willie's Furniture Restoration. The market was gutted, and the furniture store incurred significant water damage, according to Inwood Fire Chief Dan Sarnelli. No one was inside either business at the time of the fire.

Detective Sgt. Kevin Power of the Nassau County Arson/Bomb Squad said that the rear door of the market, where the fire started, appeared to have been pried open.

Vincent McManus, division supervisor at the fire marshal's office, offered no details on where the investigation stands, but said, “We are encouraging anyone who has any information or may have been in the area at the time of the fire to contact police,” McManus said.

The owners of the two businesses could not be reached for comment.

Some 75 firefighters from the Five Towns and surrounding areas fought the blaze for more than two hours, according to Sarnelli. Two firefighters suffered injuries, and were treated and released from an area hospital later in the day. Sarnelli credited his two assistant chiefs, Joseph Sanford Jr. and Richard Lairogave, who helped lead efforts at the scene, for containing the fire. The responding departments included Inwood, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Meadowmere Park, Hewlett and Woodmere. The Long Beach and East Rockaway fire departments assisted by standing by at Inwood headquarters.