KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |DeAngelo's Pizzeria Goes Up in Flames

DeAngelo's Pizzeria Goes Up in Flames

Reported By: Lee Peck

Yellow crime tape turns away patrons from DeAngelo's. The place that once welcomed so many is now gone following an overnight fire.

"I can't believe it... It is just devastating. We love it. That's our favorite Italian restaurant in town," said Jessica LaRocca. 

"Yeah... That's bad," said Burton Matatall.  

Five Lake Charles fire crews responded to a 911 call shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday.

"The first incoming crews, they entered the structure, they entered the building and noticed the fire was in the upper region of the building," said Lake Charles Fire Investigator Captain Jeremy LeBlanc. 

LeBlanc says it was clear the blaze was intense and the roof was about to give way. 

"So they then did what is called a surround and drown. They surrounded the building with fire trucks and they doused water on it. They doused water on it for four hours," explained LeBlanc.  

It would take more than nine hours of manpower to fully extinguish the blaze. "This is a 100% total loss," said LeBlanc.  

Those who worked at the Italian pizzeria would agree it's a loss -- a very personal one. "It's not just the building that matters, it's the people inside that matter," said DeAngelo's hostess Claire Biggs. 

Although no one was inside at the time of the fire, the weekly good times they looked forward to are no more. "We had our regular customers. They knew us and we knew them. They came in everyday and we stayed late and we talked about our problems and what we wanted to do with our lives," said Biggs.  

Stephanie Ryder was one of those regulars and says the fiery loss hits close to home.  "It's a loss to Lake Charles, but it's a personal loss close to home. We live right around the corner and we walk here all the time. It's our neighborhood "Cheers." We all want to know when they are to re-open... It's just sad," said Ryder.  

The owner's of DeAngelo's tell 7-News they have plans to fully reopen their doors. Meanwhile the cause of the fire remains under investigation and fire officials ask the public to not go near the building.