SURF CITY – In the early hours this morning, ScoJo’s Restaurant, a local family-owned restaurant in Surf City, was found engulfed in flames.
The Surf City, Ship Bottom and High Point firefighters responded to a call at 12:53 a.m. on January 21 about the restaurant building being on fire.
Rescue Engine 4913 arrived first at the scene and stretched a two-and-a-half-inch line to tackle the flames, according to Surf City Volunteer Fire Company’s Facebook page. The Fire Company also stated how their Captain Peter Hartney “established command and requested a Second Alarm, bringing in additional mutual aid companies.”
The firefighters at first had a low water supply due to a fire hydrant cap being jammed too tight. They were able to remove the cap with a pipe wrench and successfully held the fire on the second floor. The firefights were able to save majority of the building due to swiftly taming the flames.
Luckily, no one was injured from the fire, but the owners of ScoJo’s Restaurant woke up to the heartbreaking news of the fire ravaging their business.
“This is a heartbreaking blow in an already difficult year,” the owners wrote on Facebook. “As you all know, we were invested in making the restaurant better every day despite COVID 19. We poured blood, sweat and tears into the place. Heartbreaking to see our beloved restaurant as the way she stands today.”
At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office.
