Maplewood Diner Fire Declared Accidental

The cause of the fire that , has been determined to be accidental.

The nature of the fire was electrical, said Deputy Chief Mike Weber of the Maplewood Fire Department. Weber and FF/EMT Joseph Alvarez investigated the fire, which appeared to originate in the roof.

The diner will require extensive repairs. A visit to the diner on March 7 . Most of the roof had collapsed and the acrid smell of fire still pervaded the air.

Calls to the diner's number elicited busy signals. A call to another number for the owners, Heletios and Mike Dounis, yielded the message, "This number is not in service."

Bob Mittermaier, the Maplewood Building Official, had visited the site March 7 and posted "Order to Vacate" bills. He has also sent the owners an unsafe structure notice.

The two police officers injured in the fire were released from St. Barnabas Medical Center on Monday, March 7. Officers Joe Ciraulo and John Mazzola were treated for smoke inhalation. Acting Captain Chris Ariemma was also brought to the hospital as a precaution due to a strain. He was treated and released and is fine, according to Capt. Joseph Callaghan of the Maplewood Fire Department.