The Wood-Ridge Fire Department was alerted to the fire by a central station monitored smoke detector system which covers 251B through 255 Valley Boulevard, according to Wood-Ridge Chief of Department Kenneth Schulz.
Upon arrival of Fire Chief officers, an employee of the Empanada Shop reported smoke in the basement of his establishment.
The Chief officers found a working fire in the basement of the adjoining business, Emilia Romagna Restaurant. A fire sprinkler system in this basement kept the fire contained until first arriving Wood-Ridge Fire Department companies aggressively extinguished the fire preventing further spread, said Schulz.
The fire has closed Emilia Romagna indefinitely, according to Schulz. There was minor smoke damage to the businesses at 251 B and 251A Valley Blvd.
The one block stretch of Valley Boulevard, from Marlboro Road to Windsor Road, was closed for most of the day.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad.
Mutual aid fire departments assisting on the second alarm at the scene were Carlstadt, Hasbrouck Heights, and Wallington. Little Ferry, Lodi, and Moonachie covered Wood-Ridge headquarters and responded to a second fire alarm in another part of town.
The Italian restaurant anchors the stretch of stores which includes a butcher, physical therapy office, nail salon, convenience store, juice bar, and several other restaurants.
