Fire officials say a fire that badly damaged a kosher food store that just opened in Orange County appears to have been electrical in nature.
Heavy smoke and flames can be seen on cellphone video obtained by News 12 showing the scene at the Mintleaf Kosher Market Thursday morning before help arrived.
“When they arrived, they had fire in the attic with smoke," said Orange County Fire Coordinator Vini Tankasali.
The store on Mangin Road just opened in January.
Video shows heavy smoke and flames on the parking lot side of the building just before 10:30 a.m.
Officials say it appears an electrical fire started above one of the store’s kitchens.
“I believe there are two or three kitchens that are used to prepare hot foods," said South Blooming Grove Assistant Chief Bill McPeek.
Dozens of firefighters from 10 departments responded and used water tankers to fight the flames after officials say there was a problem with a nearby hydrant.
The store was built within six months during pushback from neighbors who were upset that a historic, colonial-era home was demolished to make way for the business.
The mayor was seen touring the site with excitement during their grand opening in January, but now it seems the future of the business is unclear.
The damage doesn’t look bad from the outside but is much worse inside. Officials say as is, the store can’t reopen.
They say the owner’s daughter was inside an upstairs office when the fire started but made it out OK and that no one was hurt.