Fire destroys Mineola auto shop

Noah Manskar
(Photo from LNBN Photos via YouTube)

Officials are investigating a fire that destroyed a Mineola auto shop Thursday night, Nassau County police said.

Six fire departments with more than 200 firefighters battled the blaze at K’s Auto Repair, located at 75 Willis Ave., after it was reported at 11:30 p.m., police said.

The unoccupied building was “fully engulfed” inflames when officers from the 3rd Police Precinct arrived, and eventually collapsed despite firefighters’ efforts, police said.

“It was a stubborn fire,” said Chief Richard Sais of the Williston Park Fire Department. “It took a long time to get under control.”

The Mineola fire department led the response to the fire under Chief Jeff Clark. The Garden City Park, New Hyde Park, East Williston and Stewart Manor fire departments also helped at the scene, Sais said.

Firefighters heard several pops from what could have been small explosions fueled by gasoline or other flammable materials, Sais said.

Members of four different departments worked to quell a small fire that had spread into the Western Beef supermarket next door, saving the store from potential major damage, Sais said.

Williston Park firefighters were on the scene until around 5 a.m., Sais said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, a police spokesman said. No injuries were reported.

“When you have a building that houses so many combustibles, anything could have set it off,” Sais said.

Share this Article