"Substantial" Damage After NW Side Pizzeria Fire

An extra-alarm fire that caused "substantial" damage to a Northwest Side pizzeria was extinguished nearly two hours after it started Friday evening, and one firefighter was injured while battling the blaze.

The fire was reported about 4:52 p.m. in the Cafe Italia, at 2625-2627 N. Harlem Ave., according to Fire Media Affairs Asst. Director Eve Rodriguez, who said a 2-11 alarm had been called for the blaze.

The 50-by-50-foot one-story building was fully engulfed with fire through the roof.   Images from Sky5 showed at least five hoses pointed at the flames from tower ladders and firefighters on an adjacent building's roof.

A firefighter hurt his foot on the scene was taken to Resurrection Medical Center in good condition, Rodriguez said. No other injuries were reported.

The fire was extinguished at 6:40 p.m., leaving the building with "substantial damage," Rodriguez said.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.