Sea Isle City fire closes popular restaurant in Fish Alley area

SEA ISLE CITY — A fire has damaged two restaurants in a shared building here.

The blaze on Aug. 12 sent flames and smoke billowing above Casa Taco and Casino Pizza at 4210 Park Road, according to Sea Isle City police.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control within an hour, and no injuries were reported.

Employees of Casa Taco, a popular Mexican restaurant, reported the fire shortly in a 911 call shortly after 5 p.m., a police account said.

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Casino Pizza was closed at the time of the blaze.

Victor Loaeza, owner of Caso Taco, said his restaurant's roof had collapsed when the building was engulfed in flames.

"Sometimes, life takes an unexpected turn, and this time it’s ours to face," Loaeza said in a Facebook post.

Loaeza described himself as "heartbroken," but said, "The most important thing is that everyone is safe. We can’t thank our fire departments and emergency personnel enough for their quick response and bravery.

"We’ll keep you updated as we move forward," he continued. "Thank you for standing by us during this difficult time."

The fire occurred in a back bay area known as Fish Alley, and police evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution..

Firefighters from Avalon, Marmora, Ocean City, Ocean View and Strathmere assisted in the response.

The blaze is under investigation.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Sea Isle City fire closes popular restaurant in Fish Alley area