Gino's, Grahamstown’s popular Italian restaurant and pizzeria, caught fire on Sunday evening. “The roof started smouldering from the pizza oven’s chimney and it started burning with visible flames,” said the owner of the restaurant, Kenneth Zacharellis.
 

Ruan Benn, one of the waitrons who was working when the fire broke out, said, “I’m a volunteer at Nedcare 911 so I’m used to this kind of stuff, when I noticed the flames I  immediately called the Fire Department.”

The senior manager at the restaurant, Brian Nolan said the fire started at about 9.30pm when their last customers had just left. “The whole restaurant was blue with smoke,” he said.

There was no danger to the employees as the fire was spotted early. Not much damage was done to
the restaurant and the fire only affected a small part of the roof and ceiling above the pizza oven.
 

Zacharellis said in the last 21 years he has owned the restaurant they have never had a fire. “I would like to thank the Fire Department for their efficient service,” he said.

At the moment a new wall is being built around the chimney to insulate the pizza oven, preventing any future incidents.