Chief Michael Sullivan reports that the Wakefield Fire Department extinguished a three-alarm fire at a restaurant on Albion Street.
At about 9:48 p.m. on Monday, April 18, Wakefield firefighters under the direction of Captain Randy Hudson responded to reports of a structure fire at Pizza Express, 191 Albion St. Upon arrival, firefighters saw heavy smoke coming from the business.
Fire began to spread through the building and roof, necessitating a second alarm and later a third alarm for mutual aid support.
Firefighters eventually pulled down a suspended ceiling to gain access to the fire. The fire was extinguished by about 11 p.m. Wakefield firefighters remained on the scene into Tuesday morning overhauling the scene.
One firefighter suffered a knee injury on scene, and was transported by Cataldo Ambulance to Melrose Wakefield Hospital for care.
Fire damage is estimated to exceed $100,000. The restaurant will remain closed until repairs can be made. The adjoining 7-Eleven suffered smoke damage and will be closed pending inspection by the Wakefield Board of Health. A firewall between the two businesses prevented further damage.
The Wakefield Fire Department received mutual aid support on scene from the departments from Lynnfield, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham, and Woburn. Firefighters from the Malden and Wilmington departments covered Wakefield Fire Headquarters.
They worked hard under difficult conditions and kept a serious fire from extending to surrounding structures,
said Chief Sullivan, who thanked the department’s mutual aid partners for their response.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by troopers from the State Fire Marshal’s office and local fire investigators.
