Kinnelon deli damaged by fire, closed for repairs

Daily Record

KINNELON —A Boonton Avenue deli was damaged by a fire that broke out in the basement before business hours on Thursday morning, police said.

Police responded to Marco's Market at 8:19 a.m. after a passersby called 911 to report the fire. Upon arrival, Sgt. Joseph Napoletano observed heavy black smoke emanating from the building's roof line and exhaust fans. The building was locked and unoccupied, said Kinnelon Lt. John Schwartz.

Kinnelon firefighters had the blaze under control and extinguished within an hour, with the assistance of Butler, Bloomingdale and Boonton Township Fire Departments. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but police said it began in the basement before spreading throughout the one story structure.

The structure itself was saved, but the interior was badly damaged.

"All the equipment and food was lost," said Schwartz.

The owner of Marco's, a gourmet deli and catering business that specializes in Italian cuisine, was notified of the blaze and came to the scene. The deli, located about two miles from Route 23 South, was shut down for repairs.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Morris County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted with the investigation. Butler Boonton Avenue was shut down from Cutlass Road to Allen Drive for approximately four hours while police investigated the blaze. Butler Police and the Morris County Park Police assisted with the road closures, while the borough Department of Public Works treated an icing condition caused by the hoses with salt.
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