News

July 21, 2010

Fire heavily damages Miners Mills pizzeria/pub

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – City firefighters were mandated to drink liquids and get evaluated by paramedics Tuesday morning while battling a fire that someone set. The blaze heavily damaged Teberio’s Pizza and Pub on East Thomas Street.

Fire Chief Jay Delaney said muggy temperatures and intense heat from the flames made the job extremely difficult.

“When we got there, there was a lot of fire on the first and second floor,” Delaney said. “Firefighters had to endure the heat from the fire and the weather.”

Firefighters took frequent breaks and were mandated to drink water or sports drinks and have paramedics check their blood pressure.

Assistant Fire Chief Ed Snarski designated the fire as a three-alarm blaze due to the size of the building and the need for more firefighters.

“We had extra paramedics on scene,” Delaney said.

“It does make it a lot harder when it’s hot and doing an aggressive interior attack,” he noted.

Firefighters responded to the pizzeria and pub at 59-61 E. Thomas St., at the intersection of St. Clair Street, just after 8 a.m. for smoke coming from the windows of the three-story building in the Miners Mills section of the city.

Snarski said it took about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. Firefighters remained at the building for much of the day hosing down hot spots in walls. No injuries were reported.

An investigation into the cause of the fire by Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Inspector William Sharknas determined the blaze was set, Delaney said. A city police detective is now investigating.

The pizzeria on the first floor, two apartments on the second floor and the attic sustained fire, smoke and water damage. A hole was cut in the roof to ventilate smoke and heat.

The apartments were vacant but were about to be occupied. UGI electric and gas crews were called to shut off utility service to the building.

The owner of the property is Shannon M. Lada, according to county property records. She purchased the property in April 2008.

Lada is listed as president on the restaurant liquor license, according to the state Liquor Control Board.

The restaurant was closed Sunday and Monday.

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