Fire Tears Through Highland Park's Jerusalem Pizza Tuesday Night

HIGHLAND PARK, NJ — Authorities have still not released what exactly caused the three-alarm fire that ravaged a longtime Highland Park small business Tuesday night.

The fire started just after 11 p.m. inside Jerusalem Pizza, located at 230 Raritan Avenue, said Highland Park Police.

Police received a 911 call, and when they got to the scene they found heavy smoke and an active fire inside the restaurant. The fire quickly rose to three-alarm status, and spread to all the apartments on the second floor, where multiple tenants live.

Police officers pulled tenants out of the burning building. One tenant did have to be transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for smoke inhalation.

MyCentralJersey reports it took five hours to put out the fire Tuesday night, and that the entire second floor of the building collapsed. Highland Park firefighters said nine career and four volunteer firefighters worked "tirelessly throughout the night" extinguishing the blaze, and mutual aid had to be called in from nearby towns.

Jerusalem Pizza had been in business for 30 years, serving the Highland Park community a unique and tasty combination of pizza, sushi and Jewish Middle Eastern food, including falafel, babaganoush and knish.

"The borough is saddened by the devastating fire that struck Jerusalem Pizza and the apartments above it very early this morning. Thankfully, there was no loss of life and no one was hurt," the town of Highland Park posted to their Facebook page Wednesday.

There were no injuries to police officers or firefighters.

The fire does not appear to be suspicious, said Highland Park Police Chief Rick Abrams; however officials have still not released what exactly caused it.

The Middlesex County Fire Marshal is still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective G. Palumbo at 732-572-3800 Ext 4264 or Gpalumbo@hpboro.com

In addition to Highland Park Fire Department, here is who responded to put out the fire Tuesday night:

• Middlesex County Office of the Fire Marshall
• East Brunswick Fire Department
• North Stelton Department
• New Brunswick Fire Department
• Edison Fire Department
• South Plainfield Fire Department
• Middlesex Borough Fire Department
• North Brunswick Fire 1

Highland Park’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was on the scene to assist the displaced tenants. The town of Highland Park is finding them temporary housing.