Suspicious Fire Tears Through Merrick Cleaners

A fire engulfed Abby Dry Cleaners in North Merrick at 12:05 a.m. on Saturday.

Nassau County's First Precinct as well as the North Bellmore Fire Department responded to the fire at the store. With the addition of the North Merrick Fire Department, the firefighters were able to put out the flames.

"There were about 100 members at the scene," said  David Marschall, North Bellmore Fire Chief. "It was a really heavy fire – mostly in the dry cleaners – but there was smoke damage to the other stores," he added. 

According to Marschall, battling the fire was difficult because it was a commercial location and the responders needed to focus on the surrounding area as well as the main location. "We needed to search the buildings next to the fire as well," he said.

No one was injured in the fire and Jerusalem Avenue was closed both ways at Tadmor Street while the fighters were extinguishing the fire.

The Arson/Bomb Squad and Nassau County Fire Marshall were also present at the scene. Currently, the investigation regarding the cause of the fire is ongoing, according to Marschall, and has been deemed suspicious by detectives.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will post more updates as they become available.