The Edmonton Police Service’s arson unit is investigating after a northeast Edmonton pizza shop was gutted from a fire early Sunday morning, causing approximately $1 million in damages, according to the EPS.
A call was made to 911 at around 1 a.m. about a fire at Pappa’s Baked Pizza on 135 Avenue and Victoria Trail.
The roof of the business was on fire when crews arrived and the pizza shop was engulfed.
“Honestly I’ve never seen a fire before. It was insane and I’m glad it all got shut down quick,” said Tianna Vandervoort-Twan, who was a witness to the blaze. She and her parents were some of the first people on scene and called 911.
“The fire people got here pretty quick. They got out and got the water and got the fire out. But, it was burning from the top.”
Firefighters managed to contain the blaze to Papa’s Baked Pizza and brought it under control shortly after 2 a.m.
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There were no injuries and there was no one inside at the time of the fire.
The cause of the blaze and the extent of the damage is being investigated.
“I talked to the owner and, you know, he’s shocked, too but like I say, it’s under investigation,” said Stephen Simpson, maintenance manager of the Belmont Town Centre.
Investigators were on scene on Sunday morning. Although the arson unit is investigating, police said on Sunday that the fire has not been deemed an arson.
READ MORE: Firefighters investigate gas leak in northeast Edmonton strip mall
In July, the strip mall, where Papa’s Baked Pizza is located, was closed for several hours because of a gas leak.
Firefighters found the source of the gas leak inside a storage room, and several propane gas tanks were later removed.
“I’m just shocked that it (an emergency) happened twice in a short manner of time,” said Simpson on Sunday.
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