A fire tore through four businesses on Cutter Mill Road in Great Neck Plaza on Thursday leading to the evacuation of 12 people in nearby homes, officials said.
According to Nassau County police spokesman and Officer Craig Beatty, the fire began around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday between 7 Cutter Mill Road and 15 Cutter Mill Road and was out as of 7:35 p.m.
The four businesses that suffered damage in the blaze are Cuttermill Mailroom, Yana Ballet Dance School, Laverne of Great Neck, and Miu Miu’s Eyelash Extension.
Nassau County Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company was the first department of many to respond to the fire.
Other fire departments that joined were the Great Neck Alerts, Port Washington, Manhasset-Lakeville, Garden City Park, Roslyn Highlands, East Williston, New Hyde Park, Plandome, Mineola, Floral Park, Westbury, Jericho, Glenwood, Plainview, Sea Cliff, Franklin Square, Garden City, Bellmore Merrick EMS, Glen Cove EMS, and Hicksville Ambulance, according to Uttaro,
The Nassau County Investigations Division, Arson Bomb Squad, Fire Marshal Rehab Unit, Fire Communications, Deputy County Fire Coordinator, and Office of Emergency Management also responded, Uttaro said.
Efforts to reach fire departments for comment were unavailing.
Great Neck fire department dispatcher Frank Wakely told Newsday that the cause of the fire remains to be determined by the fire marshal, but the initial call came over as a brush fire that spread to the stretch of buildings.
Uttaro said the fire appears to be accidental, but the investigation remains ongoing.
Wakely also told Newsday that 10 adults and two children from nearby homes were evacuated due to water and smoke damage.
Videos recorded by other media outlets showed smoke flowing out of the business vicinity into the intersection of Cutter Mill and Middle Neck Roads.
One employee from Cuttermill Mailroom who was at the scene of the fire on Friday declined to comment on the situation.
Efforts to reach representatives from the other businesses and from the Village of Great Neck Plaza were unavailing.
