Fire damages businesses, apartments on Rockaway Avenue in Valley Stream

A fire broke out in a Valley Stream barbershop Sunday evening in a two-story brick building, severely damaging four adjoining businesses and displacing residents in the second-floor apartments, police and business owners said.

Firefighters responded to 409 Rockaway Avenue, where police said they saw heavy smoke and flames pouring out of the building.

No one suffered injuries, police said.

“I’m shocked,” said Anaiz, the owner of Anaiz Hair & Beauty, who declined to give her last name. “This is the only thing that I have. It’s going to take me a long time to recover.”

She said that there is water and fire damage throughout her business, which is next door to Mr. D Cut Barber Shop, where the fire started, according to Nassau County police.

"He burned down completely,” Anaiz said of the barbershop.

The salon owner said that in addition to the businesses, the upstairs apartments were ravaged by the blaze and hacked up by firefighters battling the fire.

“Upstairs is damaged. They broke stuff to get through,” she said.

The Red Cross also responded to the fire to assist the residents who had been displaced, authorities said.

Police said the fire was not regarded as suspicious.

Anaiz said that she employs three salon workers, who will be out of work while the repairs are done.

“I hope I reopen soon, but it’s going to take a long time,” she said. “This is a multicultural shop for everybody of every race. We are open for the community.”