The Hitchin branch of Fabio's Gelato remains closed after an electrical fire broke out last week.

The fire began in the basement of their store on Tuesday, July 25, and no one was injured.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue was called at 6.30pm, and two fire engines - from Hitchin and Stevenage - attended the scene.

A spokesperson for the fire service told the Comet: "Firefighters in breathing apparatus searched the basement and identified the sources of the smoke as being an electrical fire, which they extinguished with dry powder before ventilating the basement."

The Comet: The fire began in the basement of Fabio's Gelato in Hitchin.The fire began in the basement of Fabio's Gelato in Hitchin. (Image: Fabio's Gelato)

Shortly after the incident, Fabio made a Facebook post in which he said: "Luckily our team were quick to act and the fire brigade got to us just as the mains supply into our shop ignited."

Fabio was grateful to the shop's landlord, who he said "supported us in installing a level 1 fire alarm when we moved in as well as fire boarding our basement".

"No doubt this has saved lives today.


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"He also popped down tonight to check we are OK, as did a number of other business owners in town and we really appreciate it."

Fabio updated his shop's customers again yesterday (Sunday, July 30), with a Facebook post stating that the incoming electric supply had been fixed and the hole outside the shop to be filled "early next week".

A new electricity meter has been fitted, and an electrician was visiting today (Monday, July 31) to ensure the electrics inside the store were safe.

After those visits, a cleaning team will be in for a deep clean "to get rid of the burning odour and any fire residue ... the walls are sticky from the extinguishers and fumes which filled" the shop.

The Comet: Firefighters from Hitchin and Stevenage fire stations helped extinguish the blaze.Firefighters from Hitchin and Stevenage fire stations helped extinguish the blaze. (Image: Fabio's Gelato)

Other items on Fabio's to do list include servicing their machines, fire alarms and other pieces of equipment, and re-stocking all their gelato.

He said it will "be at least another week before we can open".

Fabio also thanked his customers for their "kind words", Cornish Hearts for their "general morale support", Los Reyes Tapas Bar for hosting their antenatal classes, and Eight in Baldock for providing lunch for them while they "were beginning the mammoth task of sorting everything".

Anybody seeking their fix of Fabio's Gelato can still visit their Letchworth branch, which remains open as normal.