Valley Stream Barbershop Fire Kills Over 20 Animals, Investigation Underway

Barbershop Fire in Valley Stream

• 💔 A fire broke out at Ben and Tony's Barber Shop in Valley Stream, a business operating for 77 years.
• 🚒 Fire crews responded quickly and contained the blaze to the barber shop, extinguishing it in under an hour.
• ⚠️ The fire was determined to be electrical in nature and is not considered suspicious.

Animal Casualties and Owner's Grief

• 🐾 Tragically, over 20 animals, including turtles, fish, and birds, perished in the fire.
• 🐦 The owner, Ben Kig, kept birds as pets in the shop, which were a source of joy for many customers, especially children.
• 😔 Ben expressed his heartbreak over the loss, stating, "It's sad to see uh poor animals being helpless."

Impact on Nearby Businesses

• 🏘️ The fire also caused significant smoke damage to neighboring establishments.
• 💇‍♀️ Gabby's hair salon, two doors down, experienced a similar fire 10 years ago, adding to the owner's empathy.
• 🍽️ A neighboring restaurant and a popular shoe repair shop were forced to close due to the damage.

Community Reaction and Future Hopes

• 😮 Customers expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
• 🙏 The owner of Ben and Tony's Barber Shop hopes to rebuild the long-standing community business.