Fire at Fishtown pretzel shop
On Wednesday morning, Furfari’s Soft Pretzel Bakery, 2025 Frankford Ave., experienced a small oven-related fire.
It was the first such blaze in the bakery’s history, according to co-owner Linda Furfari.
“In 59 years, we’ve never had a fire,” she said.
Two employees baking Furfari’s pretzels were the only people at the shop when the fire started early this morning. They had both stepped outside for a break when flames began to spread on the ceiling above the oven, according to Furfari.
One of the employees on-site attempted to control the fire with a fire extinguisher, but was unable to operate the extinguisher, Furfari said.
Now, Furfari’s may need to be closed for a month or six weeks to allow for repairs and an investigation of the fire, Furfari said.
“The building where you walk in and buy the pretzels is fine. The one where the oven is — we need to fix it,” she said.
Philadelphia Fire Department executive chief Richard Davison confirmed that two ladder companies responded to the fire at Furfari’s at 7:01 a.m. and saw smoke rising from the roof of Furfari’s. They brought the blaze under control by 7:14 a.m.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Davison said. ••
Missing teen last seen in Port Richmond
A 15-year-old high school wrestler is missing, and was reportedly last seen in Port Richmond.
Zachary Robles, 15, a student at Central High School in Olney, has been missing since the evening of Monday, July 15.
He is believed to have last been seen in Port Richmond, according to a notice distributed by volunteers participating in the search.
Robles is about five feet tall and weighs about 100 pounds. He is listed online as a member of Central High School’s wrestling team.
Anyone with information about Robles’ whereabouts is being asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department, or to contact volunteers assisting with the search at (267) 328–4589. ••
