Fire Damages Miriam’s Restaurant in West Orange

Firefighters from six area fire companies battled a three-alarm blaze at a popular West Orange restaurant Monday afternoon.

According to West Orange Fire Chief Peter Smeraldo, the fire, at 546 Valley Road at the intersection of Mitchell Street, started on the ground floor in Miriam’s Restaurant in the Valley Section of the township and spread to the upper floor apartments. There were no reported injuries.

The fire, reported at 12:56 p.m., initially left two apartment residents trapped on the fire escape. When firefighters arrived, two police officers patrolling in the area had rescued the pair.

A firefighter at the scene was also reported to have been struck by an air conditioner that fell out of a second floor window, but he kept fighting the blaze, Smeraldo said.

He said the cause of the blaze was unknown, but the investigation is continuing.

Because of the damage, Smeraldo said, he believes the building will not be inhabitable for the residents. Temporary housing is being sought for those residents.

Firefighters from the West Orange, Orange, East Orange, South Orange, Montclair and Newark fire departments fought the blaze.

Patch will update this story as more details become available.