Maplewood Diner Morning Fire Leaves 2 Police Officers Injured

Update: The fire that gutted the Maplewood Diner on Sunday, March 6, was declared accidental, with the cause being electrical. The two officers injured were from St. Barnabas and have returned to duty. The structure has been declared .

An early morning fire at the Maplewood Diner on Springfield Avenue near the Irvington border left two Maplewood police officers injured.

According to Maplewood Fire Department Capt. Joseph Callaghan, the fire department received a call reporting the incident at approximately 5:30 a.m. "We received a call from the Maplewood Police Department that smoke was showing from the Maplewood Diner."

Upon arrival, Acting Capt. Chris Ariemma from Engine 32 saw flames and requested a second alarm which brought in response from Irvington, South Orange and Union fire departments to the scene. "Deputy Chief Sam Santucci reported heavy fire in the roof area shortly after his arrival,” Callaghan said, and several people were assisted from the building.

The South Orange Rescue Squad sent three ambulances to the scene and eight staffers, according to South Orange Rescue Squad Capt. Kurt Gibson. The squad transported two Maplewood police officers to Saint Barnabas Medical Center for treatment for smoke inhalation. Gibson said there were no other injuries.

The Maplewood Fire Department team of Deputy Chief Mike Weber and FF/EMT Joseph Alvarez are presently investigating this fire. As of now, according to Callaghan, the cause is "undetermined."

- Marcia Worth contributed to this report.