Structure fire closes Best Pizza

By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter

A shed fire at Best Pizza at 695 East Washington St. has closed the business for the foreseeable future.

According to the North Attleborough Fire Department, the fire was reported at around 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. Initially reported as a brush fire, NAFD Chief Christopher Coleman said that several 911 calls reported a shed on fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a shed that sat against the building was fully engulfed in fire, which had spread to the roof.

“Firefighters were able to get water on the fire quickly, a ladder to the roof and cut a hole in the roof to ensure the fire did not spread into the attic,” said Coleman. “There were no injuries.”

In a Facebook post, Best Pizza also reported that everyone was evacuated safely. The two businesses located in the same building complex as Best Pizza, La Bella Reflexology and Gridiron Liquors, had to close temporarily due to the fire as well. 

The fire was extinguished quickly with the help of mutual aid from Plainville, Foxboro, Cumberland, Attleboro, Providence Canteen and Mansfield MEMA Rehab.

Lisa, a long-time employee of Best Pizza, was working at the restaurant with one other employee when she first began to smell smoke. She reported calling her boss about the fire at 2:41 p.m. 

“I was cooking lunch and came out back to put a pot in the sink and smelt something like paper burning,” said Lisa. “I went back to finish cooking lunch and smelt it getting stronger. I came out to the back door and when I opened it, it was engulfed in flames. I slammed the door and ran out and called 911.”

Lisa, who was visibly shaken after escaping from what she said was the first building fire she’s ever experienced, works at Best Pizza six days a week and referred to the owners and her co-workers as “like family.” 

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the North Attleborough Fire Investigation Unit, and there is no information on when the pizza shop may reopen. The owner of Best Pizza could not be reached at this time for comment.