Fire crews battled an early morning fire that caused substantial damage to a popular pizzeria and a vacant building next door in Nassau County, according to News 12 New York. The station reported that the two-alarm fire started inside Jerusalem Pizza at 344 Central Avenue in Lawrence at about 3:30 a.m.
The fire spread quickly to the building next door, a former sandwich bar that had closed last year, News 12 reported. It took about 150 firefighters roughly an hour and a half to bring the flames under control.
No one was inside when the fire started, and no one was injured, according to News 12. The station reported that the pizzeria had been very popular in the Five Towns.
The fire marshal's office and the Nassau County Police arson bomb squad were inside the building working to determine what caused the fire, News 12 reported. Fire officials on the scene said they believe it originated in the front part of the pizzeria, though no official cause had been released.
People who live in the area told News 12 the restaurant had long been known as a good spot and a part of the community. One longtime resident said there had always been a pizza store at the location.