A fire damaged numerous businesses in a Suffern commercial building this morning.

The fire broke out shortly after 6 a.m. at 83 Lafayette Ave. and quickly went to an all-hands situation.

In addition to the Suffern FD, about 75 firefighters responded from area fire departments including:

· Hillburn Fire Department

· Sloatsburg Fire Department

· Spring Valley Fire Department

· Thiells Fire Department

· Monsey Fire Department

· New City Fire Department

· Hillcrest Fire Department

· Pearl River Fire Department

· Tappan Fire Department

· West Haverstraw Fire Department

The owners of M&M Stationary, which is across the street from the fire, tell News 12 they saw smoke coming out of the right side of the two-story building around 6:30 a.m. and called the fire department. By the time trucks arrived, smoke was billowing out of the entire top floor.

Suffern Mayor Michael F. Curley tells News 12 it looks as though the fire started in the back of the Rockland Halal Mart and moved up to the second floor. "It's depressing but it can be fixed, it's materialistic stuff," says Curley.

It took about an hour to get the main body of fire knocked down, then crews continued to work on hot spots. The frigid temperatures were a challenge for the crews and it's taxing on the equipment as well. "It's cold. Guys get wet, they're freezing up quickly, so you got to shuffle guys in and out quickly," says Suffern Fire Chief Jeremy Kaufer.

No one was injured, but there's a great deal of damage to the building. There are two business on the second floor and five on the first floor. One business owner, Adriane of Pine Knoll Florist Shop, says she had a funeral scheduled for today and another tomorrow, but she thinks she may have lucked out with just smoke damage. "Nobody got hurt. I'm hoping I didn't get any water damage and I can proceed, and I have other flower shops that I'm friends with. We hook each other up and that's what we'll do."

There's no word yet on the exact cause. Curley says no one was in the shop when the fire started. Investigators have been working the scene including Peyton, Rockland County's arson dog.

Many heading to the County Center for a COVID test today tell News 12 they are happy to hear it's offering vaccinations once again. "I think it's a great idea. I'm surprised they shut it down. It's important, this is where I got my vaccination. This is the Westchester County Center, they should be doing that for us," says Helaine Marshall, of White Plains.

Testing and vaccinations are by appointment only, both will be offered at different place in the building.