NEW HAVEN, Conn. --
Firefighters and clean-up crews are still at the scene in New Haven after a massive fire damaged more than a dozen businesses Wednesday.
The Brass Monkey bar, which just opened one month ago, is expected to be torn down.
The city estimates the damage to be about $10 million.
The fire chief said Wednesday morning's blaze was the biggest fire in downtown New Haven in more than 20 years.
At least five businesses, including clothing shops, a furniture store, a gift shop and a bar, were destroyed in the retail-complex fire, city officials said.
No injuries were reported.
Fire crews received a call at about 6:30 a.m. for a fire at the 800 block of Chapel Street. Sixty-five firefighters from 11 of the city's 12 engine companies battled the fire, which was brought under control just before 10 a.m.
Officials said they believe the fire started in the center of the block, moved up to Chapel Street toward Center Street and burned back into the middle again.
There are about 14 buildings in the area, dating back to the early 1900s.
"All these buildings are interconnected," Fire Chief Michael Grant said. "It was quite a challenge, to say the least."
From Chapel to Center streets, the devastating fire ripped through the roof of the old Kresge Department Store. It also destroyed The Brass Monkey on Center Street, which opened just three weeks ago.
At one point, crews poured 4,000 gallons of water a minute on the flames, fire officials said, leaving up to four feet of water in the New Haven Variety Store.
Residents in 96 units were evacuated and nearby businesses were closed. Utility companies shut down power to the block and tested sprinkler and fire emergency systems before residents were allowed back in.
Bill Christian, one of more than a dozen restaurant owners affected by the fire, said it hit during his busiest time of the year.
Two help desks were set up in the area. A residential help desk was set up at the Starbucks at the corner of Church and Chapel streets for residents affected by the blaze.
Another help desk was set up at the Citibank building to assist businesses. They were working on getting businesses back open and assisting the ones that were partially damaged.
Crews from the Department of Public Works will be at the scene cleaning up streets.
Much of the area that was closed to traffic reopened on Wednesday evening. Chapel Street, which was hit the hardest, remained closed.
The nearly 100 residents who were evacuated from their apartments and condos Wednesday morning were slowly being allowed back inside their homes. Some people said they will never forget their fear from earlier in the day.
"Fire started shooting out, and the wall started smoking, stuff coming out from the wall," resident Hasni Ghazali said. "I was like, 'Oh my God.'"
Just before sundown, Gov. M. Jodi Rell and other officials visited Chapel Street to see the damage.
"They will be working closely with the city, the mayor and the business community for helping to rebuild," she said.
Just before Rell arrived, the city fire marshal said he was waiting for an excavator before going into the burned-out building and starting his investigation into the cause of the fire.
