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Read the press release here.

Harlem Bodega Fire Destroys Neighboring Apartments

By  Rosa Goldensohn and Trevor Kapp | July 8, 2014 11:55am 

 The fire broke out at 355 W. 125th St. just after 5 a.m., FDNY officials said.
The fire broke out at 355 W. 125th St. just after 5 a.m., FDNY officials said.
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DNAinfo/Trevor Kapp

WEST HARLEM — A fire left a Harlem bodega gutted and destroyed two apartments on West 125th Street Tuesday morning, FDNY officials said.

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze at 355 W. 125th St., which broke out just after 5 a.m. and was not brought under control until 90 minutes later, officials said.

Adam Normal, 31, a worker at Omega Gourmet Deli where the fire started described a chaotic scene.

“The smoke was coming from the ceiling,” said Normal, who was working the grill at the time. “It started as white, then it became black. It was difficult to breathe.

“We called 911 and came outside. Fire started coming outside. The flames were big, like five or six feet high.”

Bambi Blount, who lives directly above the deli, awoke to the smell of smoke.

“I got up and walked to the front of the house and it was filled with smoke,” Blount, 50, said. “At first, I could see in front of me. Thirty seconds later, though, I couldn’t see anything.

“I knew about where the door was and I just walked out. It filled with smoke so fast.”

No one was injured in the fire. The cause was under investigation, an FDNY spokeswoman said.