An early-morning four-alarm fire in Fells Point left three businesses destroyed and two others damaged yesterday as flames ripped through buildings that have stood for more than a century.

Gone are the Rite Aid Pharmacy, Scratch and Dent Liquidators and the Star Express takeout restaurant -- three staples of the 400 block of Broadway, not far from the Broadway Market. Also damaged with smoke and water were a neighboring bicycle shop and a tax preparation business.

Battalion Chief Steve Canter said he had no damage estimate yesterday. He said the cause of the fire -- which appeared to ignite just before 1 a.m. inside the Rite Aid -- was under investigation.

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries -- one had a cut on his right arm and the other twisted a knee. The buildings were unoccupied at the time of the blaze.

The most heavily damaged building, graffiti-covered in some spots, was being demolished piece by piece yesterday, with hot spots still flaring up more than 10 hours after the fire began.

Jack Bell, a retired seaman who lives around the corner from the shopping district, has worked security at the Scratch and Dent for a decade.

"It's a tragedy -- a lot of nice people worked there and there were a lot of nice customers," said Bell, 72. "The shopping mecca of Broadway was right here."

The loss of the Rite Aid leaves this section of Fells Point without a drugstore.

About 30 homes were without power in the vicinity as crews worked to tear down the shops. Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. spokesman Steve Unglesbee said they hoped to have power restored by morning.

"It's a loss for the whole neighborhood," said Stuart Heckler, 38, who worked part time at Star Express.