A four-alarm fire tore through the building housing Rockport House of Pizza & Roast Beef on Sunday morning, forcing two families from their homes and leaving the longtime restaurant heavily damaged. No injuries were reported.
Emergency crews were called to 19 Broadway Avenue shortly before 10 a.m. after a strong gas odor was reported inside the mixed-use building. By the time firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was pouring from the structure and an active fire was burning inside.
The response quickly grew as conditions intensified. Firefighters from several neighboring North Shore communities were called to Rockport to assist, including crews from Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Essex, Wenham, Hamilton, Middleton, Ipswich, Peabody, Danvers and Lynn.
National Grid was also called to the scene and shut off electrical service to the building while crews worked to bring the fire under control.
Brenden Kolterjahn, general manager of Rockport House of Pizza, was inside when the emergency began. He said he noticed the smell of gas shortly before flames appeared near the restaurant’s cooking equipment. Those inside were able to get out quickly.
Firefighters also faced concerns involving propane tanks at the property. Crews were ultimately able to shut the tanks off without an explosion, preventing the situation from becoming potentially more dangerous.
After roughly three hours of firefighting, crews had the blaze knocked down around 1 p.m.
The fire displaced two families who lived in apartments connected to the restaurant. The damage has also disrupted the business and left several employees without work.
The loss carries added weight in Rockport because the property has been part of the community for generations. Residents recalled commercial activity at the location dating back decades, with the site previously housing a grocery store before becoming known for the pizza business.
The large firefighting operation also had an impact beyond the immediate scene. With numerous hydrants used during the response, residents in Rockport were advised that they could temporarily notice discolored water in the municipal system.
Investigators have not yet announced what caused the fire. Rockport fire officials are working with the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office as the investigation continues.
As of the latest update, no injuries had been reported, while the displaced residents and the businesses affected by the fire were left dealing with the aftermath of one of the community’s most significant fires in recent memory.
