Three Alarm Fire Hits Mill Basin Shopping Center

Fire Dept. officials said the blaze started in restaurant and spread to other stores. Charles Rogers A number of stores were damaged Sunday when a fierce fire, fanned by a steady breeze, whipped through a popular Mill Basin shopping center.

The three-alarm fire brought nearly 140 firefighters and 33 units, according to an FDNY spokesperson, to the large center at East 66th Street and Avenue U, which features a Key Food Supermarket that was not affected.

"The first alarm came in at 10:53 a.m.," the spokesman said. "It was followed by another alarm at 11:05 a.m. and then another just before noon."

The spokesman said one unidentified man was taken to Beth Israel Hospital by Emergency Medical Service paramedics. Tthe severity of his injuries was not known.

The fire was declared under control shortly after noon. Officials are still investigating its cause.

The Key Food store and a few of the individual small business stores were in operation by Monday, but a Chinese restaurant and dry-cleaning establishment appeared to have sustained damage. Charles Rogers

Workers cleaning up restaurant on Monday.