By JEFF LIPTON
Fire officials sifting through the rubble of the once-busy building at 4584 Austin Blvd., which housed about 10 businesses, have determined that the blaze that nearly leveled it was deliberately set. Now they are focused on finding the arsonist or arsonists who ignited the blaze.
³We¹re confident that it was arson,² said Detective Brian Kaminski of the Nassau County Police Department¹s Arson/Bomb Squad. ³We found that it was an intentionally set fire and that all other causes have been eliminated.²
He added that investigators have ruled out electrical and natural causes such as lightning or refracted sunlight. Investigators also confirmed that the fire started in Sher¹s Barber Shop, on the first floor of the two-story commercial structure, before the wind-aided blaze quickly spread to the second floor.
But investigators would not reveal what, if any, evidence had been gathered at the scene to suggest that the fire was deliberately set or possible motives for the act of arson. Investigators added that they wanted to withhold making that information public in an effort to help catch those responsible. ³We¹re still interviewing people, still following up on it,² said Vincent McManus, a supervisor at the Nassau County Fire Marshal¹s Office.
Investigators had to work quickly to find evidence in the burned-out structure because officials decided that it was structurally unstable and would have to be torn down as soon as possible. Island Park officials said they are waiting for paperwork and a demolition permit before they raze the building. One wall buckled and the roof partially collapsed, fire officials said. McManus said that when all is said and done, damage estimates could reach millions of dollars.
³We filed for a demolition permit,² said one Island Park official. ³We don¹t know when it will come down.²
Anna D¹Amaro and her sister, Domenica Califano, who had operated Sea Coast Realty in the building since 1995 and helped manage the building, said they were shocked that someone could set the fire, wiping out businesses and threatening lives. ³That¹s so scary ‹ that¹s insane,² said D¹Amaro, who has worked in the building for a total of 17 years, starting as an employee of Beach Coast Realty before taking over the business and renaming it Sea Coast Realty 12 years ago. ³This has ruined so many lives.²
Califano added, ³It¹s horrible that someone set this fire. ... What if it took a life? It¹s such a terrible thing to do. What makes people think they could blow up a building like that? It¹s just very bizarre.²
The sisters said they have been working out of the garage in D¹Amaro¹s home until they relocate to 4043 Long Beach Road in Island Park. After the fire, they managed to salvage a few files that were locked in fire-proof cabinets, but almost everything else was destroyed. The two women, who have helped the building¹s owner rent out space, are helping the other business owners find other locations.
³It¹s very sad for so many people,² said Califano. ³I feel bad for all the tenants. We placed all the tenants there.²
In addition to Sea Coast Realty and Sher¹s Barber Shop, the other businesses included several telemarketers, a computer processing service, a debt consolidator and a pharmaceutical business.
The sisters said they have been touched by the outpouring of support, especially from other real estate brokers, who have donated a fax machine and a telephone system to them. They are still seeking donations of office supplies to keep their business afloat. ³We would appreciate a $5 gift certificate to Staples, if possible ‹ anything,² said Califano. (Those who would like to contribute may call (516) 897-SOLD.)
The blaze erupted at around 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 23, and more than 100 firefighters from a dozen area fire departments battled to contain the blaze in frigid temperatures for two to three hours. They were on the scene for some seven hours, until 11:30 a.m., making sure it was extinguished. Arriving on the scene were departments from Island Park, Oceanside, Long Beach, Point Lookout, Rockville Centre, East Rockaway, Freeport, Lynbrook, Merrick, North Merrick, Baldwin and Valley Stream.
At one point during the fire, the building¹s roof partially collapsed and firefighters inside were ordered to evacuate the building. It was not occupied when the fire started, and no one was reported injured in the blaze.
A fierce early-morning wind made the fire more difficult to fight and helped the flames spread more quickly throughout the structure, fire officials said. Firefighters managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to an adjacent group of stores, Island Park Fire Chief Robert Wells said.
Police from the 4th Precinct closed Austin Boulevard and Long Beach Road to traffic as firefighters battled the stubborn blaze. Debris that fell off the building during the fire and littered the roadway had to be cleaned up. Long Beach Road was reopened to traffic at about 8:45 a.m., and Austin Boulevard at around 11:30 a.m., after firefighters left.
Anyone with information on the fire is urged to call the Arson/Bomb Squad at (516) 573-5550 or the arson hotline at 742-3219. All calls will be kept strictly confidential, officials said.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
