Ringwood pizzeria closes after oven fire during Halloween rush

A small fire forced Luigi's Pizza & Restaurant to close its doors in Ringwood on Friday, Oct. 31. The blaze occurred during a busy Halloween period when the kitchen was processing a high volume of orders. More than 40 pizzas were stacked on top of an oven while employees managed deliveries. The restaurant is located at 16 Skyline Lake Drive.

A flame ignited in the back corner of the oven. Staff members did not immediately notice the fire. Anthony Martinelli was assisting delivery drivers on the opposite side of the counter. He spotted the flame and alerted his colleagues. The restaurant stated that Martinelli's location allowed him to see the issue before it grew.

Luigi's Pizza & Restaurant posted on Facebook that the flame might have gone unnoticed for a longer period if Martinelli had not been in that position. The staff credited his quick action with preventing the fire from expanding. No injuries were reported during the incident. All personnel escaped the building safely.

The restaurant reported minimal physical damage to the interior. Despite the limited impact, the shop cannot resume full operations until an inspector approves the site. The review process is expected to take several days. Management has not announced a specific date for reopening.

Police and firefighters responded to the scene. Neighboring businesses provided assistance during the sudden closure. The restaurant thanked customers who contacted staff via phone, text, or in person to check on the team. The owner added a final message to the online post. "Thank you guys for everything. Luigi’s forever."