Fire damages kitchen at Abate’s Pizza in Orange

April 21--ORANGE -- Abate's Pizza in Orange was closed Thursday after a fire broke out near the restaurant's pizza ovens.

No was hurt in the fire, but the restaurant will have to be closed until repairs are made, Fire Marshal Tim Smith said at the scene.

"There is extensive damage in the kitchen area so they are going to be closed for some time," he said.

Smith said the fire at Abate's, 106 Boston Post Road, was reported at about 10 a.m. He said there were employees in the restaurant at the time.

Orange firefighters arrived on scene within three minutes and found flames extending into the ceiling above the restaurant's pizza ovens.

Smith said the fire was quickly extinguished. West Haven firefighters were also called in to help at the scene, and Woodbridge firefighters provided station coverage.

"We had two areas we had to deal with, above and below, so we needed the extra help (from West Haven)," Smith said.

Town health and building officials also responded to the scene Thursday. Smith said Abate's would have to work with contractors and its insurance company to determine when it will reopen.

Firefighters had to remove two large exhaust pipes from Abate's ovens while making sure the fire was completely out. Smith said there was also minor smoke damage to a neighboring business, but the fire did not spread there.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation late Thursday morning.

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