Jun 2, 2026, 10:21 PM

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A Morrisania business owner says decades of hard work went up in smoke after a fire tore through his auto body shop Tuesday afternoon.

The fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m. at Third Avenue Auto Repair, according to the FDNY. The owner, Omar Fofana, was out grabbing lunch at the time.

"I came back and saw the light catching fire. It was spreading everywhere," he said.
Neighbors say they first noticed thick black smoke pouring from a small window before flames quickly spread throughout the building.

“I was walking and I saw black smoke coming from the window over here,” one neighbor said.

FDNY crews arrived within minutes and worked to knock down the fire from the roof while firefighters stretched hose lines inside the building.

For Fofana, the loss is especially painful. He took over the shop just eight months ago, but says his connection to the business spans three decades. He spent 30 years working alongside his father detailing cars before eventually taking ownership.

“I made a lot of sacrifices to put my foot down and try to run the business,” Fofana said.

News 12 was given an exclusive look inside the damaged shop, where collapsed ceiling materials, charred debris and water damage covered nearly every surface. Two vehicles inside the building were left coated in soot and rubble.

Despite the extensive damage, no injuries were reported.

Employees spent Thursday evening cleaning debris from the shop as fire marshals worked to determine what caused the blaze.

“I’m still looking for answers. I’m not sure what’s going on,” Fofana said.

While the future of the business remains uncertain, Fofana says he is determined to rebuild.

“I’m trying to cover everything up with a smile. I know it’s gonna be hard for me, but I know I’m a hustler and I know we’ll be back. I just have to stay strong.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.