File this in the “no good deed goes unpunished” category: the fire that gutted Pizza Plus on Seventh Avenue last Thursday started after a welder accidentally ignited a fire-control system that was being upgraded.
“The worst thing about this is that I was trying to do the right thing,” said pizzeria owner Roz Bayne as she watched firefighters battle the two-alarm blaze, which broke out at around 9:30 am.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze, which was declared under control by 10:15 am.
Seventh Avenue was closed in both directions for more than two hours, and dozens of people gathered, first to watch the fire, but then to console Bayne and her employees (whose ranks include Bayne’s son).
Well-wishers brought coffee, doughnuts and even flowers as Bayne and her crew realized how much damage there was to the restaurant, which is between 10th and 11th Streets.
Residents of the apartments upstairs were forced to relocate.
Bayne, who lives in nearby Ditmas Park, vowed to rebuild.
“We will be back,” said Bayne, whose 20-year-old institution is much loved by Slope parents not only for its quality pizza, but also for the big cabinet of coloring books and crayons that keep under-aged customers busy.
