A fast-moving fire early today caused $300,000 damage at the Library Plaza shopping center in Stanton, officials said this afternoon.

By TERRI SANGINITI, The News Journal

Investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s Office are on the scene in the 5900 block of Kirkwood Highway, sifting through the rubble trying to determine the origin and cause of the blaze that gutted the Al Casapulla's Sub Shop in the Kirkwood Food Court.

There was moderate damage to an adjoining martial arts center, officials said.

Mill Creek Fire Company spokesman Jon Stewart said heavy winds hampered firefighters’ efforts to quickly bring the raging fire under control.

“The winds were blowing from the west to the east across the top of the building,” Stewart said. “The flames were flying in the wind.”

When firefighters arrived at the strip shopping center shortly after midnight the wind-whipped flames were leaping about 25 feet in the air.

“The winds did hamper the efforts to control the fire,” Stewart said.

The buildings were unoccupied when the fire broke out at 12:01 a.m.

No one was injured.

The shopping center also houses a beverage center, news stand and barber shop in an adjacent building; they were unaffected by the fire, officials said.

It took about 60 firefighters from Mill Creek, Cranston Heights, Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Company of Newark, Belvedere and Christiana fire companies an hour and 10 minutes to control the blaze.

It was placed under control at 1:11 a.m.

Kirkwood Highway was closed in both directions for three hours because firefighters needed to seek hydrants and lay hoses across the street from the fire, Stewart said.

Assistant State Fire Marshal Richard Ward said additional information will be released when the cause of the blaze is determined.