Circle Inn Pizzeria, popular Sunset eating spot, destroyed in blaze
SUNSET — An intense fire destroyed a popular pizzeria and local institution in Sunset, the Circle Inn Pizzeria.
The blaze started late Sunday night and crews from several area fire departments, led by the North Davis Fire District, battled it into the wee hours of Monday morning.
“A total loss,” said Chad Bangerter, a member of the Sunset City Council and the North Davis Fire District board of trustees.
Mark Becraft, chief of the North Davis Fire District, estimated damages at around $2 million, factoring rebuilding costs. The pizzeria has been around some 50 years, estimates Scott Wiggill, also a member of the Sunset City Council and the fire district board of trustees.
The cause remains under investigation and reps from the State Fire Marshal’s Office will help with the probe, according to Wiggill. The blaze seemed to have started in the center of the structure, in the kitchen area, according to Bangerter, and Becraft said the building didn’t have a sprinkler system.
The turn of events spurred a strong outpouring on social media.
“Hopefully there is enough support to rebuild! I’m seeing posts everywhere about this so there’s clearly nothing but love for the Circle,” said one poster on the Roy Utah Community Facebook page.
The structure, located at 2253 N. Main St., contained a basement apartment that was rented out. But the tenant got out safely, according to Bangerter, and no one was injured.
According to online Davis County property records, the pizzeria building was originally built in 1940 and measured just under 4,000 square feet.
On the positive side, firefighters were able to save a furniture store abutting the pizzeria to the south, Al’s Furniture and Mattress, Becraft said. As the fire intensified, firefighters adopted a defensive posture, he said, and put a focus on protecting the other structure, made of brick.
The fire was reported around 11:30 p.m. Sunday and intensified quickly. The Syracuse, Clinton, Layton, Roy, Riverdale and Hill Air Force Base fire departments assisted, along with firefighters from the Weber Fire District, according to Becraft.
The cold weather froze the water being used to fight the fire at times, complicating the effort. Crews remained on the scene Monday morning, watching for hot spots.
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- Firefighters combat a fire at the Circle Inn Pizzeria in Sunset. North Davis Fire District firefighters led firefighting efforts, but the intense blaze destroyed the structure. The fire was called in around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2021, and brought under control by early Monday, Jan. 3 2021.
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- The Circle Inn Pizzeria in Sunset in a photo with a stamped date of Jan. 15, 2019. The locale was destroyed in a fire called in on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2021.
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- Firefighters combat a fire at the Circle Inn Pizzeria in Sunset. North Davis Fire District firefighters led firefighting efforts, but the intense blaze destroyed the structure. The fire was called in around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2021, and brought under control by early Monday, Jan. 3 2021.
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- Firefighters combat a fire at the Circle Inn Pizzeria in Sunset. North Davis Fire District firefighters led firefighting efforts, but the intense blaze destroyed the structure. The fire was called in around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2021, and brought under control by early Monday, Jan. 3 2021.
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- Firefighters combat a fire at the Circle Inn Pizzeria in Sunset. North Davis Fire District firefighters led firefighting efforts, but the intense blaze destroyed the structure. The fire was called in around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2021, and brought under control by early Monday, Jan. 3 2021.
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- Firefighters combat a fire at the Circle Inn Pizzeria in Sunset. North Davis Fire District firefighters led firefighting efforts, but the intense blaze destroyed the structure. The fire was called in around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2021, and brought under control by early Monday, Jan. 3 2021.
