On February 7, a fire struck Jerusalem Pizza and China Lee on Raritan Ave. Both restaurants provided reliable sources of kosher food, with Jerusalem Pizza standing as a pillar in the Highland Park community for over 30 years.
The Highland Park Police Department (HPPD) said that the fire started just after 11 PM and collapsed the second floor of the building, which housed tenants. The blaze displaced four people, and the establishments on the first floor remain closed until further notice.
In an interview, HPPD Officer Jose Curbelo stated, “The first step taken by the officers was to determine the nature of the fire, whether it was active or not, and if there was smoke or any other condition.” The officers at the scene ascertained it was an active fire and prioritized evacuating all the residents, which was successful.
Though there were no witnesses to the start of the fire, the smoke alerted others nearby who made the 911 call. According to Officer Curbelo, the testimonies of these callers have been instrumental in investigating the cause of the fire, an operation led by Detective Sergeant Sean McGraw. Sgt. McGraw has previously trained in understanding arson and the causes of fires. Officer Curbelo added that although the investigation is ongoing, “There does not appear to be anything suspicious with the cause of the fire.”
The Highland Park Police Department also acknowledged that they worked closely with the Fire Department and First Aid Squads, dispatched to the location upon police arrival and communicated by radio. Due to this effort, one resident was transported “directly to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for smoke inhalation, but there were no injuries to police officers or firefighters,” Officer Curbelo stated. The resident has since been discharged.
Recently, Rabbi Eliyahu Tal and Norma Bowe ran two fundraisers to support the restaurant owners and residents. To contribute to the latter effort, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-highland-park-residents-displaced-by-fire.
Despite local initiatives, the building remains closed for the foreseeable future, leading residents to question whether these businesses and homes will rebound.