Fire Strikes at La Bottega

A small kitchen fire at La Bottega Wednesday night is not likely to halt panini production at the village restaurant, according to fire officials.

Firefighters were dispatched to the Oak Street "panini palace" at approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday after reports of a fire.

Ridgewood Fire Department Captain Bob Kozlieski, on the scene, told Ridgewood-Glen Rock Patch that the fire occured inside a wall in the kitchen. The wall's wood-based interior heated and caught fire after hours of continuous use of the adjacent stove, he said. 

After arriving on the scene, RFD shut off gas to the building and was able to locate and extinguish the fire in approximately 15 minutes, Kozlieski said, 

A health official was also on the scene to inspect the building and report on the status of the food. There was no damage to the rest of the building.

Kozlieski said that the damage inside the kitchen itself is not extensive: "They'll probably be open tomorrow."