DELAWARE — Smoke filled downtown Delaware’s skies Friday afternoon after a vinyl shed caught fire behind Amato’s Woodfired Pizza and spread to an exterior cooler.
Delaware Fire Department Chief Tim Pyle reported no injuries or casualties for both civilians and firefighters as a result of the blaze. Five departments and about 30 firefighters total responded to the incident.
“Because it was a commercial fire, we go heavy on units,” Pyle said.
Scioto, Liberty, Tri and Orange townships all responded to assist the Delaware Fire Department.
Pyle said the fire did not affect any neighboring businesses, and Amato’s did not sustain additional damage to its building.
Amato’s owner Brad Hampu told Delaware Source the restaurant, 6 S. Sandusky St., remained open Friday.
Walking through the incident
DFD conducted a preliminary investigation and is not certain the cause of the fire. However, Pyle and Hampu both said nothing looked suspicious Friday afternoon.
“The vinyl shed caught fire which then transferred over to the cooler,” Pyle said.
“It doesn’t look like the cooler [caught fire first], the compressor looks good so there’s really no other reason for the cooler [to catch on fire].”
Hampu said he was cooking pizzas in the front of the restaurant when an employee from Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery next door noticed smoke.
“(She) came over and notified us that something was on fire,” Hampu said.
“By the time I ran out the door, I realized it was too much for a fire extinguisher so I called 911.”
Pyle said firefighters were dispatched at 1:06 p.m., arrived on scene at 1:08 p.m., put water on the fire at 1:11 p.m., and had it contained by 1:19 p.m.
“We knocked it out pretty much with the initial companies and started releasing mutual aid companies pretty quick,” the fire chief added.
Hampu credited the Delaware Fire Department for their quick and thorough work responding to the incident.
“The Delaware Fire Department was here instantly and did a fantastic job containing everything,” Hampu said.
“Kudos to them, and kudos to the employee of Old Dog that notified us because had she not, things could have been worse.”
Below are a few more photos from Friday’s scene, courtesy of Laurie Lendon.
