Lunchtime fire closes Patrizia's of Long Island restaurant in Massapequa Park
A fire at Patrizia's of Long Island in Massapequa Park closed the restaurant on Sunday afternoon. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto/kali9
A small fire broke out at Patrizia’s of Long Island, closing the restaurant in Massapequa Park on Sunday.
Just after 12:30 p.m., firefighters responded to the restaurant on Merrick Road where the alarm went off. The fire was contained to the grease duct from the kitchen, and no one was injured, according to Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro.
Workers and others inside the restaurant evacuated themselves, Uttaro said, and Patrizia's would be closed for at least the rest of Sunday.
The fire was controlled within about 20 minutes, Uttaro said, but firefighters had to open up ceilings in the stores on either side of Patrizia's to ensure the fire from the pizza oven duct didn’t spread.
"This was no raging fire that gutted the restaurant," he told Newsday. "Grease builds up in the duct work. From time to time, it happens ... An ember gets up there ... That grease is quite flammable. It's solid oil and muck."
Reached by phone, Patrizia's owner Gennaro Alaio said he wasn't yet sure how long the restaurant would be closed.
"I never had this problem, I've owned places all over New York," he said. "I don't how it even started, to be honest with you ... They did some work on the roof, maybe it's the roof, I don't know."
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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