Millions in Damage After Hunts Point Market Fire

After last night's two-alarm fire, most of Hunts Point Market was open for business. However, the offices of Master Purveyors and Desola Provisions were destroyed; Desola's Bill Beskin told NY1 aside from the offices being "completely burned out, "The coolers, all the meat, everything is, we're fine." Still, inspectors are making sure the meat is still okay (Desola supplies to the Stage Deli, Master to Peter Luger's).

Over 100 firefighters battled the blaze, and three suffered minor injuries. It's unclear what caused the fire, but the hazmat team responded, over concerns that ammonia and Freon gases from refrigerators could catch fire.

Vista Food Exchange's owner Vincent Pacifico, who is also a member of the market's board of directors, estimated the damage might be in the tens of millions. But he reassured the NY Times, “There are 43 cooperatives in the market, so New York will still be supplied with fresh, quality meat from the facilities that were not affected by the fire.”