Ibrahim Hatem has described the harrowing effort to put out flames of what was initially a small fire at his family business in East Auckland - before realising it was too late.  The 60-year-old, one of the owners of the popular Pakūranga spot, The Pita House, has told of his “broken heart” at seeing the family business go up in smoke right before his eyes during Friday’s firefighter strike.  It is a business he, his brother and brother-in-law started more than 20 years ago.  “Very sad - a broken heart,” Hatem, whose second language is English, told the Herald.  “Nearly 23 years in the shop. We built it when the children were still babies. They’ve grown up with it - it’s like a baby too.”  Volunteer firefighters battle the blaze at Cortina Place, Pakūranga, last Friday. Photo / Jason Dorday  Emergency services were called to the fire shortly after 12pm on Friday - minutes after professional firefighters went on strike for an hour.  Fire and Emergency NZ later said it took 30 minutes for the nearest volunteer crews to arrive at the scene. Had the nearest career station - in Mt Wellington - been operating, crews would have been four minutes away, the emergency service has told the Herald.  Hatem said the fire started in the rangehood of the oven they used at the store. As well as supplying Middle Eastern groceries and products, they also had freshly made pita breads and other Lebanese delicacies on offer.  “I see everything in front of my eyes,” Hatem said.  “[The fire] started very small - minor. I tried to put it out. I carry on... but I can’t control it.  “I called straight away to the fire people.”  Ibrahim Hatem’s son, Ahmed Reynolds-Hatem, had been out picking up supplies for the store when he got a call from his worried mother asking if he was okay, as she had received word of the fire.  ‘Everyone get out!’  Reynolds-Hatem said his father had relayed that he had unloaded two fire extinguishers on the flames before realising it could not be doused and they needed to get everyone out of the building.  Ahmed Reynolds-Hatem (wearing black jeans) stands among his family as they watch their family's business destroyed by fire. Photo / Jason Dorday  A mosque a few doors down means midday on Fridays is their busiest time of the week, as people come to the shop before and after Friday prayers.  There were up to 14 staff members and dozens of customers inside the building when the fire started, he said.  “[Dad] said he started shouting: ‘Everyone, please leave! Sorry, customers - drop what you got. You’ve got to get out’!”  Reynolds-Hatem, who grew up with his cousins helping at the store, arrived back at the shop that afternoon to see it being destroyed by fire.  Ibrahim Hatem, 60, is taken to hospital after a harrowing effort to put out the flames at the family business he helped start more than 20 years ago in Pakūranga. Photo / Jason Dorday  There were emotional scenes as family members cried and comforted each other.  Feeling overwhelmed at seeing his life’s work being destroyed, Hatem suffered a medical episode and was rushed to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.  Reynolds-Hatem said his father and uncles started the business after they arrived from Syria more than two decades ago. They wanted to start a new life for their young families.  “They’re a bunch of workaholics. They all wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning... 12 hours a day for 20 years, seven days a week,” Reynolds-Hatem said.  “They came to this country with nothing.”  He said the emotion of everything involved had been hard on his father that day.  Members of the Hatem family comfort each other after the family business in Pakūranga, East Auckland, is destroyed by fire, with co-owner Ibrahim Hatem (inset) being taken away to hospital after having a medical turn. New Zealand Herald composite photo / Jason Dorday&nb...