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The department received a call for the fire at Kingsley's Deli & Pizzeria in North Salem around 10:49 p.m. Sunday, from a resident of one of the upstairs apartments who saw smoke coming from the building, Dreyer said.
Because there are no working fire hydrants in that part of North Salem, tanker trucks from surrounding departments responded to moved water from a local lake to the restaurant at 252 June Road, the chief said.
"That is a big issue we face when fighting fires in this area," he added.
The fire, which began outside in the back of the building moved inside, and throughout the building, including the basement. Most of the inside of the building received damage, he said.
"If you saw the building from the front you would have to look twice to notice any damage," the chief said. "But the back is destroyed. It will take a while before they will be able to repair the damage and reopen."
The one resident was able to escape unharmed and there were no workers in the restaurant at the time of the fire. No firefighters were injured.
The department received assistance from the Westchester County Fire Cause & Origin Team, and the Golden Bridges, Somers, Bedford Hills, Yorktown, Brewster. Mahopac, South Salem, and Carmel fire departments, as well as New York State Police and North Salem Ambulance.
It's unknown when Kingsley's will reopen.
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