Major Fire in Franklin Square — What We Know So Far
This morning, under a deep blue sky, the charred remains of 529 Bagels and Ralph’s Italian Ices stood in ruin on Franklin Avenue — the acrid smell of smoke still hanging in the air after last night’s massive blaze.
On Sunday evening around 5:18 PM, the Franklin Square Fire Department responded to heavy smoke and flames pouring from the building at 529 Franklin Square Ave. Police say the call quickly escalated to a 4-alarm fire, drawing a large response from across the area.
Nearly 200 firefighters from departments including Valley Stream, West Hempstead, Malverne, Lakeview, Garden City, Stewart Manor, Floral Park, Elmont, Uniondale, Lynbrook, Mineola, Inwood, and East Meadow joined Franklin Square crews in battling the inferno.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal confirmed the building was not occupied at the time. According to reports, one firefighter was treated on scene for smoke inhalation.
Officials say the fire is not considered suspicious, and the cause is still under investigation.
Firefighters worked for hours and finally brought the blaze under control just before 10 PM. It clearly looks like the damaged businesses will need to be demolished due to the extent of the destruction.
Our thoughts are with the owners, employees, and everyone affected. We’ll continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
