Local News
The three-alarm fire broke out early Thursday morning, causing extensive, irreparable damage to the ice cream shop.
Firefighters responded to a large fire at Moozy’s Ice Cream Emporium in Belmont early Thursday morning. Anthony Tulliani
A Belmont community is reeling after a beloved ice cream shop was destroyed in a fire early Thursday morning.
At about 4:30 a.m., the Belmont Fire Department responded to a report of heavy smoke at Moozy’s Ice Cream Emporium. Firefighters quickly began an “aggressive interior attack” on the blaze but found the floor was unstable, according to Belmont Fire Chief David DeStefano.
Immediately after firefighters left the building, the floor collapsed. Once the flames were under control, they determined that the fire began in the basement, DeStefano told Boston.com.
The shop, located at 2 Trapelo Road, was completely destroyed. Becca Pizzi, the store manager, said she was heartbroken when she saw the extent of the damage.
“When I got there, it was devastating,” Pizzi said. “This was my baby.”
While first responders were battling the blaze, a natural gas line ruptured, causing a second fire. Emergency crews worked to contain that fire until the gas supply could be shut off, fire officials said in a press release.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury, but stayed on the scene and continued to work, according to DeStefano. Crews from Cambridge, Arlington, Newton, Waltham, and Watertown provided mutual aid while the Lexington, Somerville, and Winchester fire departments covered Belmont’s fire stations.
Moozy’s opened in 2012, replacing a Brigham’s Ice Cream parlor that had been there for decades prior. Owned by Dante Muzzioli, it became an important local spot for the town’s high school and college students, many of whom worked there, including Pizzi’s daughter.
In the hours after the fire broke out, Pizzi said she received countless messages from employees, their parents, and others who shared their condolences. If anything good came out of the flames, she said, it was that it reminded her how caring the Belmont community can be.
“It’s showed me how supportive and loving the community is,” Pizzi said. “I’m seventh-generation living in Belmont, and all generations reached out.”
Hopes to rebuild have been dashed by the unsalvageable damage. Fire officials said that neighboring businesses in the same building also “suffered extensive smoke and water damage,” but Moozy’s will be leveled down, according to Pizzi.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, DeStefano said.
Pizzi expressed confidence that Muzzioli won’t let this be the end.
“We really just love the ice cream shop, and I can’t imagine he would go out like that,” Pizzi said. “Just stay tuned, because we’re down but not out.”
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