A row of businesses was destroyed after a massive, fast-moving fire ripped through downtown Yonkers.

Fire officials say flames broke out at a dollar store at 5 South Broadway in Getty Square at around 11:30 p.m. and quickly spread to surrounding businesses, including a McDonald's Express.

Crews mostly fought the fire from up on the ladders because it was too dangerous to go inside and it didn't take long for the roof to collapse. The five-alarm blaze was an all-hands-on-deck event for Yonkers firefighters with mutual aid provided by neighboring departments.

The dollar store building stretched back about 150 feet, making the fire tough to fight.

"Just being so deep, one entrance in the front and that was really the only access we had to the building," says Fire Chief David Dronzeky.

There were more than 50 firefighters working the scene for hours trying to keep the flames from spreading to the rest of the block, including historic St. John's Episcopal Church. The fire was finally under control at around 6 a.m. Friday.

Officials say 34 firefighters suffered injuries including heat exhaustion.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.