Specialty Cheese Shop Burns, With Flooding Nearby

Caldwell fire fighters responded to a fire and flood shortly after midnight at Empire Specialty Cheese in Fairfield last night.

Fairfield Deputy Police Chief Anthnoy Manna reported that Fairfield Police Officers Thomas Myers and James High Jr. were dispatched to the scene where they discovered water and smoke flowing from the building.

It took the fire fighters about 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, which caused extensive water and smoke damage at Empire Speciality Cheese. The building is also home to Electronic Business solutions.

No injuries were reported. The West Essex First Aid Squad was present at the scene of the fire as a precautionary measure.

“Preliminary investigation indicates the fire was concentrated between a refrigeration unit and the ceiling,” Deputy Chief Manna stated. “However, the actual cause of the fire is still under the investigation by the Fairfield Fire Prevention Bureau.

Manna added that the Fairfield Health Department was also contacted to asses the damage sustained to the cheese products.

Fairfield was assisted by fire departments from Caldwell, North Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, and Pine Brook