Officials: NOLA Pizza Oven To Blame For Fire, Not Up To Standards

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – New information is coming out regarding a fire that damaged poplar Market Square restaurant NOLA and several other businesses.

And KDKA has learned that NOLA may have been negligent with its wood fire oven.

Once the fire was out, once the smoke cleared, arson investigators and city building inspectors moved in.

"Arson is on scene to quickly begin the investigation, got bureau of building inspection here. Gonna try and get them in there as quick as they can, get these businesses reopened," said Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Mike Huss.

Right now, the problem area, where arson investigators found trouble, right where employees saw flames: the wood fire pizza oven.

"It started with the pizza oven and it escalated from there," said NOLA employee Carl Lattimer.

Early Tuesday, city building inspectors were asking questions about that pizza oven.

Turns out the pizza oven was not registered with the city, was not permitted with the city and the imported oven was not up to standards for such ovens.

Arson investigators are convinced improper installation of the oven led to the fire.

People at NOLA Tuesday didn't want to comment about the fire, oven or reports of problems with the permits.

Fire