Fire Damages Pizzeria, Liquor Store In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Authorities are searching for the cause of a fire that damaged a pizzeria and neighboring stores on Chambersbridge Road early Saturday morning.

A passerby reported seeing smoke coming from Knockout Pizza, at 60 Chambersbridge Road, just west of the Garden State Parkway, shortly after 4 a.m., Lakewood Police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Immediate efforts were made to knock it down but not before it spread to Buy Rite Liquors next door, Staffordsmith said. Other units in the plaza suffered extensive smoke and water damage. Emergency personnel were cleared from the fire scene by 4 p.m.

The Lakewood Police Department's detective bureau, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office are investigating, he said.

Staffordsmith said additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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