At 12:37 a.m. Monday, the Delhi Fire Department was alerted to a fire at KC’s Pizza on the corner of Shanks and Letteau. Within two hours the fire was contained, but it took a total of nearly 11 hours before the fire was deemed controlled.
Firefighters from Delhi, Ballico, Livingston, Hilmar, Stevinson and Atwater responded to the call and fought the blaze. A rescue squad was also called in from Merced. All are a part of the Merced County Fire Department. When Delhi firefighters arrived, the fire had already broken through the roof, according to Bert DeCosta. He said that the fire went straight up. The fire destroyed the entire building that formerly housed Video Visions at the opposite end and D&D Auto in the center.
D&D Auto recently moved down the street to a location on Stephens next to Fiestas. KC’s Pizza was the only business in the center at the time of the fire, though there has been talk of modifications being made as another business was preparing to move into the building.
Though yet to be confirmed to The Delhi Express, it has been reported that arrests have been made in connection with the fire. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire department said only that the fire remains under investigation.
It’s a big loss for Delhi,” DeCosta said.
When Walter Aghassi first opened the business in 1998, a group of longtime and lifelong Delhi residents met for coffee every morning at KC’s Pizza which served breakfast at the time. The pizza parlor and restaurant has been a major supporter of local clubs, organizations and athletics. The banquet hall had team photos of many of the high school teams along the walls. Though the ownership has changed through the past few years, the commitment to the community has remained. The Delhi Boosters Club held their meetings there. The Delhi Historical Society previously held meetings there. Major sporting events and fundraisers brought the community together under the roof that offered some of the best hot wings in the area in addition to pizza and hamburgers.
Fire and insurance investigators remained on the scene Tuesday. A fence has been put in place and the windows covered as the investigation continues. In the meantime, many in the community continue to mourn the loss of a cornerstone business.
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Tags: Delhi, fire, KC's Pizza, pizza
