Uno Pizzeria in Billingham has vowed to return stronger after a severe fire tore through its premises, forcing the takeaway to close until further notice. The blaze also affected the ironing room of an adjacent laundrette.
Seven-hour operation to tackle blaze
Cleveland Fire Brigade was called to the scene at Mill Lane shops at midnight on Monday, September 21. Crews worked through the night to bring the flames under control in a seven-hour operation.
The pizza restaurant sustained severe damage, and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
Heartbroken staff thank brigade
A post on the pizza shop's Facebook page revealed that staff were left "absolutely heartbroken" by the incident. "Unfortunately the damage caused means we will be closed until further notice," the post read.
"Thankfully everyone is safe and we thank Cleveland Fire Brigade for spending seven hours controlling and putting out the blaze, keeping everyone safe. We urge everyone to please be careful when passing until the area is clear", reports Teesside Live.
Owners promise to return stronger
The owners expressed gratitude to those who had sent messages of support in the wake of the blaze. "Uno Pizzeria means so much to us, and most importantly, it means so much to all of you who have supported us, visited us, and made us part of your community. Seeing our shop affected like this has been incredibly difficult for all of us."
"We are so grateful for all your kind words and messages. Thank you for supporting us during this difficult time. We promise to do everything we can to come back stronger and will keep you all up to date with any news."
