by TIM VASSILAKOS
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Blazing flames added to the blazing heat in a two-story medical center yesterday afternoon, closing off the top of New Dorp Lane for several hours.
The fire, which started around 4:05 p.m., was detected by the basement tenants of Life's Bounty Medical Care.
"Around 4 p.m., we started to smell smoke in the basement of the office," said employee Renee Ferrara of Eltingville. "But we figured it was just the air conditioning or something like that."
According to fire officials, the cause is yet to be determined.
"It still is of unknown origin, it's anyone's guess," said Mark Fernen, acting deputy chief of Division 8. "But there is moderate damage to the area."
Fernen noted that the damage wasn't structural but that there was some water damage.
An FDNY HazMat company investigated the site and determined that hazardous materials weren't an issue.
The building, across the street from Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, includes attached addresses 27 and 31 New Dorp Lane.
"The left side [27 New Dorp] is completely fine, they can go back in," said Fernen. "But it is unknown when workers in 31 can go back to business as of now -- fire marshals will be investigating."
Tenants of the unaffected building were oblivious to the danger next-door.
"I was seeing a patient when we started to smell smoke," said Dr. Ahmed ElSoury of New Dorp Medical. "We all thought it was the Verizon building [across the street] and we thought it was no big deal."
The 95-degree heat exacerbated the nauseating smell of burning rubber. Firefighters constantly rehydrated but their faces betrayed their exhaustion.
"These guys don't get paid enough," said Angela Alioto of Great Kills, whose husband was a firefighter for 27 years.
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