At least 12 people are recovering from injuries after a massive fire burned through several businesses in Sunnyside, Queens.
The fire broke out inside one store on Queens Boulevard around 2:14 a.m. Thursday and quickly spread.
Dozens of firefighters were called to the scene as the fire grew to five alarms.
The raging flames eventually engulfed six stores, one of which partially collapsed in the back.
Firefighters dodged a frightening backdraft that ripped through one building at around 3 a.m., sending them scrambling to Queens Boulevard for safety.
One man on the scene reported seeing the fireball as firefighters attempted to get out of the building.
"I saw three firefighters just on the ground on Queens Boulevard, they flew out of the basement, and I saw one of the guys picked up his helmet and he ran back there to do his job. I was terrified," the witness said.