WILKES-BARRE -- Smoke filled the air as a well-known pizza place burned Sunday afternoon in Wilkes-Barre.
The fire broke out at Nardone's Pizza just after 2 p.m.
The smell of burning metal was in the air at Nardone Brothers Baking Company and the bakery's owner is still trying to get a handle on just how bad the damage is.
Some witnesses in Wilkes-Barre, who saw the first few minutes of the fire on Hazle Street, can't believe the building is still standing.
"I was visiting a friend and saw big smoke, so we ran down to see it," said Danielle Naugle of Wilkes-Barre.
"When we first arrived, there were flames shooting out of the roof and out of the window by the Nardone Brothers sign," said Assistant Fire Chief John Ostrum.
Naugle added, "It was big, it was like oh, spread, big."
The Wilkes-Barre Fire Department Headquarters is just a quarter mile away. They quickly arrived and put it out immediately. Then, made sure no one was inside. Firefighters are still not sure what caused it.
"We don't know anything yet," said Bakery owner Vincent Nardone.
Nardone surveyed the damage to his business. When he got to a back door, he hoped to have an idea of what happened.
He added, "Can't see anything because there were no lights on inside. There's a freezer over there, I wanted to see if there was anything over there, but it doesn't look like it."
Wilkes-Barre police blocked off Hazle Street, while firefighters continued to make sure there were no hot spots that could re-ignite the fire. Neighbors looked on as firefighters finished the job. A few workers at the plant came by, wondering if they'll be working anytime soon.
"Right now, this couldn't happen at a worse time," said Nardone.
Vincent Nardone was preparing the bakery for one of its busiest weeks as local schools prepare to open. Now, he's hoping for some goodwill and maybe a temporary place to bake the company's popular pizza.
He added, "They'll be people out there to help us out."
A fire marshal is expected on the scene to see just what caused the fire.
Wilkes-Barre fire officials say it appears the building is in good shape, but people who work here won't know how bad the bakery equipment is until the smoke clears and get a good look inside.
