Updated: 52 People Evacuated in East Northport Fire

More than 50 people were evacuated from a commercial building with residential apartments Friday when a fire broke out at Larkfield Vacuum in East Northport.

Suffolk County police said that the fire started in the rear of the Vacuum store, located at 376 Larkfield Rd. around 3 p.m., gutting the space, and spread to the adjoining record store, shoe repair shop and multiple apartments on the second floor.

The fire destroyed four of the 21 apartments, which run the length of the building. Three families, which include eight people, had to be relocated by the Red Cross to the Hampton Inn in Commack.

The other 42 residents were placed on Town of Huntington HART busing, and sent to the Salvation Army in East Northport for shelter until electricity and heat were restored to their apartments, East Northport Fire Chief Joseph Ervin said.

Firefighters from Commack and East Northport squads extinguished the blaze at 376 Larkfield Road by 4 p.m., as temperatures outside hovered just above 15 degrees.

First responders blocked off Larkfield Road from Clay Pitts Road to 3rd Avenue as they probed the damaged structures.

The exact cause of the fire has not been determined but it is believed to be non-criminal, police said.

Nobody was injured, firefighters said.

Amanda Lindner contributed to this report.