Pepe Joe's Brick Oven Pizzeria was damaged in a fire early
Monday morning, leaving owner Silvestre Caamano distraught.
The entire front section of the Melrose restaurant was
charred. The pizzeria has been at its Cortlandt Avenue
location for 26 years.
"The back of my kitchen is not really burnt out,”
Caamano told News 12, who pointed out holes in the roof. “I will rebuild it
again because I have been here for so long.”
Caamano blamed an e-bike that had been used by delivery
drivers. He said it was plugged in for more than 24 hours before sparking the fire.
The FDNY says it took 12 units and 60 firefighters to get the
fire under control in about an hour. There were no injuries.
Caamano says he spoke to his insurance broker about the next
steps he should take.