A Sunday night fire that started in a deli basement on White Plains Road spread to engulf seven stores and displaced four families who live in apartments above the businesses.

Owners of the Kentucky Fried Chicken and Golden Crust, two of the charred shops, say they are prepared to incur big losses as they get back on their feet.

The business owners say rebuilding will be even harder for the immigrant families who live above the stores. Tenants returned to the scene Monday to see if they could recover some of their belongings from the ashes.

Fire officials say the blaze started in the basement of the deli on the corner. As the flames rose, they spread to the other stores.