Several Fire Island landmarks have been destroyed.
Around 1:30 a.m. Friday morning, flames broke out in the Cherry Grove community of the popular summer resort destination. Over a dozen fire departments responded to the blaze.
Officials say many structures, including the famed Grove Hotel, the Ice Palace, and the Holly House, were all destroyed by the inferno, which affected “the entire downtown business district” near Holly Walk and Bayview Walk.
The Ice Palace nightclub, in particular, is a Fire Island institution. In addition to being a popular venue for circuit parties, its stage has hosted some of the biggest gay icons in the business including Liza Minnelli, Carol Channing, Lady Gaga, Chita Rivera, John Waters and Justin Vivian Bond.
Two private dwellings also burned down in last night’s fire, and three others were damaged. Thankfully, none of the buildings were occupied at the time.
The fire burned well past sunrise. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries while fighting the blaze.
This is the second time in recent years that parts of Fire Island have erupted into flames. In 2011, popular night clubs the Pavilion and the Sip ‘N Twirl were both destroyed in a fire that illuminated the eastern horizon for hours.
The cause of last night’s blaze is still under investigation.
Related stories:
LISTEN: New Radio Documentary Explores “Gay Heaven” of Fire Island
The Beginner’s Guide To Fire Island Pines
PHOTOS: Tom Bianchi Remembers Fire Island Through A Lens Fondly In “Polaroids 1975-1983?
Daniel Belhumeur
Gay Landmarks lol
Orean Keels Jr.
Does Fire Island burn down at least once a year or is it just me?
Steven Craig
Why would you use wood on fire island.If it was called cannible island I would stay away too.
Maureen Kearney Griffin
Spent a week there many years ago lovely place. Very sad.
vive
I guess “Fire” Island is to be taken literally.
Clark35
Larry Kramer, and Eric Garber AKA ‘Andrew Holleran’ will be devastated!!!
@Daniel Belhumeur: LOL I’m sure some people think the meatrack/pines are a “gay’ landmark too.
Edwin Hernandez Alcala
Wth again!?
Matthew Perreira
Wow. Awful news.
Geeker
Where will the fancy A list gays do their meth and swap loads now???
Jonathan26
That’s gross and so unnecessary.
Randall S. Murphy
From your comments section: “Where will the fancy A-List gays do their meth and swap loads now?” LOL
Michael Englehardt
Come to Ogunquit instead
Mark Klein
So sad.
Cole Steele
I find it strange that Gay Landmarks always end up in flames ( no pun intended). Insurance fraud??
Garold Bulmerr
gaymen can get 3 to 9 manpussy a day rew with honey
barkomatic
Probably a coincidence but a little suspicious.
Giancarlo85
Lots of weird trolls on this site lately. I wonder who opened the gates for all the demented types to come on here…
lauraspencer
@Geeker….I guess you have never been to Fire Island. The community of Cherry Grove is mostly inhabited by older gays, lesbians and younger gays just starting out in life. The Pines is where the “A-List” gays as you refer to them spend their summer.
It’s suspicious that the Ice Palace & Grove Hotel burned to the ground 4 years after the fire at the Pavilion in 2011. I wonder if it is about collecting the insurance money on real old buildings that are in desperate need of remodeling?
Ron Parsons
It’s been ‘flaming’ for years.
Boy L Joey
Again?? this is the second time I’ve heard another fire happening in FI
J.r. Graff
Uh, didn’t they just burn something down two or three years ago? NY gays are overrated.
Clark35
@Geeker: LMAO! Too true, they’ll just move onto other gay ghettos like PTown, SoBe, Palm Springs, etc. but barebacking and meth are problems both among LGBT people and heterosexuals.
@Boy L Joey: Yes it seems as though there are fires there every few years it’s rather suspicious.
Jonathan26
Who benefits most from a fire of this magnitude in the Grove? What better way to capture the crucial nightlife business in one of the two gay communities on Fire Island than eliminate the only competition with a fire just before the season opens? Maybe its a stretch, but I do know it wouldn’t be the first time its happened. Small communities, but huge egos & big money at stake among the various business owners, contractors, vendors, etc. It’ll be very interesting to hear what the arson investigators find.
vive
@Giancarlo85: “Lots of weird trolls on this site lately.”
They are all from Facebook. Queerty is apparently posting on Facebook and cross-accepting Facebook comments.