The fire outside Duane Reade started at around midnight, and reportedly, a witness saw it a pile of debris deliberately set aflame. There were no injuries and only exterior damage.

Roosevelt Island Daily News

The Roosevelt Island Daily News thanks our friend Sylvan Klein for an early tip on this story.

In the daylight, a broad scar ran up the west side of 425 Main Street. Blackened bricks reached the 7th floor, and Duane Reade boarded up several windows.

So, what happened with the fire outside Duane Reade?

First, the good news: no injuries, but rumors came in through social media, changing over time.

NYPD arrested an individual assumed associated with fire and took him to the 114th Precinct. Reliable sources, however, say the arrest was not related directly to the fire.

RIOC’s Public Safety Department was, as usual, useless in terms of information. There’s a link for incident reports on their website, but a click delivers only an error page. Although RIOC is a state agency with a well-paid communications staff, it dislikes media inquiries, and fumbles like this are common.

Other sources, though, report that an argument between a Duane Reade manager and a disgruntled ex-employee preceded the fire.

While residents speculated on culprits and causes, the question of why combustible materials pile up frequently alongside a residential tower have not been answered.

Common eyesores, stacks of cardboard boxes and packing material are common in the area.

• 
  Tuesday’s PSD blotter: noise calls, a harassment report
  RIOC’s Nov. 10 PSD blotter lists 15 incidents, all on Main Street, including four noise complaints, a harassment report and one hospital transport.
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• 
  A new RIOC appeals officer denied records on how its general counsel was hired
  A different RIOC appeals officer denied records on how RIOC hired general counsel Lance Polivy. RIOC’s internal deliberations on the hire stay withheld.
• 
  Monday’s PSD blotter: two hospital transports, two disputes
  RIOC’s Nov. 9 PSD blotter lists 14 incidents, including four aided calls with two hospital transports and a verbal dispute at 750 Main Street that drew FDNY.
• 
  Flushing Spa Murder: Man Charged After Woman Found Stabbed to Death
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• 
  Sunday’s blotter: four medical calls, three non-criminal investigations
  RIOC’s Nov. 8 PSD blotter lists 19 incidents, including four aided calls (two hospital transports) and three Investigation Non-Criminal entries at 465, 580 and 546 Main Street.

“Yes. I’m Present.”

On October 20, 2022, RIOC approved a tower, guarded its confusion and learned to mistake presence for consent.

Eleanor Rivers Sep 18, 2026

It is October 20, 2022, and the Cultural Center Theater at 548 Main Street has again been made to serve as a boardroom, its folding tables carrying the temporary authority of the state. The folding tables are perfect for RIOC. They support anything, question nothing and collapse under pressure. At 5:45 p.m., Chair Designee Alex Valella calls the meeting to order.

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