A midday blaze that destroyed two businesses and injured two firefighters shut down traffic along South Avenue for several hours in downtown Fanwood yesterday afternoon.
The fire had its origin in faulty electrical wiring in the rear of the Psychic & Tarot Card Reading business at 226 South Ave., causing mostly water and smoke damage in the building, said Fanwood Fire Chief Rick Regenthal.
The fire spread to the rear of a neighboring business -- Panda Brass and Supply Corp. -- causing extensive damage throughout the building. The two-story building, as well as the building housing the tarot-card reading business, were both condemned by a borough construction official, said Regenthal.
The owner of Panda Brass, Steve Guastamacchia, who had left his store only moments before the fire was reported, looked at the blackened storefront that faced the Fanwood train station as firefighters quenched any lingering flames.
