Fire marshals will begin sifting through the rubble of a destroyed Queens hardware store today – searching for the cause of a horrific fire and explosion that killed three firemen.
The teetering remains of the Long Island General Supply Co. were being demolished yesterday and heavy debris removed to clear the way for investigators, who already know there were propane tanks improperly stored in the basement.
“There was some [propane] stored below ground, which is not proper,” Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen said.
“We’ll probably give him [owner Randall Gordon] a summons for that.”
Von Essen said the store had permits to stock several other flammable products, such as lacquers, thinners and paint.
“We have no reason to believe at this point that [the propane] was the cause of the explosion or exacerbated the explosion,” he said.
“We don’t know yet what caused so violent an explosion and what caused the fire to begin … All of the things they were permitted to store could cause an explosion like that.”
Von Essen said the store passed a fire inspection last November and that firefighters knew dangerous chemicals were stored in the building.
DIAGRAM OF A DISASTER:
Chronology:
2:20 p.m. fire reported
2:24 p.m. First units arrive on scene
2:28 p.m. It’s ruled a full first alarm
2:48 p.m. Deputy chief on the scene determines he needs more resources and orders a second alarm. Before orders can be transmitted, the building explodes. Second alarm is transmitted as a result.
2:49 p.m. Third and fourth alarms sounded.
2:52 p.m. It becomes a five-alarm. Roll call determines three people are missing. Search starts