BROOKLYN, NY - Huge flames destroyed several businesses in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon, August 20th. A massive plume of smoke could be seen rising from the 6-alarm fire on Lee Avenue in Williamsburg. 

Firefighters arrived at the scene four minutes after the initial call, just before noon. Officials say the flames appeared to start in a chocolate shop and spread to at least nine nearby retail stores. Firefighting efforts were complicated because most of the stores were locked at the time.

"We used saws to cut the gates and we were able to get in. They had heavy fire throughout the building by the time they got inside. It was a challenging fire," FDNY Chief John Hodgens said.

The fire was under control by 3:45 P.M. Sunday, and the cause is still under investigation.