A large fire Friday morning blackened the inside of Hot Stuff, a Long Beach novelty shop that’s been near the border of Alamitos Beach for decades.

The flames started around 3:54 a.m., prompting dozens of firefighters to rush to the blaze. They forced their way into the shop to get at the flames, according to Long Beach Fire Capt. Jack Crabtree.

At the height of the fire, 45 firefighters were battling the blaze, he said. It took almost half an hour to douse the flames, according to Crabtree.

The interior of Hot Stuff was severely blackened afterward.

Crabtree said firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to any next-door business in the Broadway strip mall—although they did suffer some smoke damage.

Hot Stuff has been in the strip mall near Bixby Park for years. It sells everything from greeting cards and candles to sex toys and condoms, according to its website.

Crabtree said investigators don’t know yet what caused the fire.

https://lbpost.com/life/food/fire-4th-street-bistro-restauration/