Bellmore Fire Department Responds to Small Explosion, Fire on Bedford Avenue

Bedford Avenue was shut down between Oak Street and Grand Avenue after a small basement fire at Gennaro Jewelers at approximately 4:40 p.m. Tuesday evening. The Bellmore Fire Department responded to the call and placed the fire under control shortly after arrival.

Fire officials said the fire was caused by a small explosion from the gas meter. When fire fighters arrived at the scene, they pulled the meter box off of the wall and the fire was extinguished without the use of a hose.

While there is soldering equipment used for making jewelry in the basement of the store, which is owned by Town Councilman Gary Hudes, the equipment was not the cause of the fire, according to fire officials.

The gas company was requested to the scene in order to shut off the gas to the building due to a small leak.

The North Bellmore Fire Department, which had responded to an earlier call in East Meadow due to a strange odor at St. Raphael's Church, was also on the scene as mutual aid.

In total, there were three engines, one ladder and one rescue truck on the scene, while two hoses were connected for safety precautions. No one was injured.