Fire destroys New Jersey Boardwalk

[malaise]

<snip>
A massive fire has devastated the iconic boardwark of a New Jersey shore town, Seaside Park, that was still rebuilding from damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

More than three hours after the fire started, in the vicinity of an ice cream shop, television footage showed flames still leaping into the sky and thick black smoke covering a stretch of the coastline. The fire was spreading into neighboring Seaside Heights, where the MTV reality series Jersey Shore was filmed.

The New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, arrived on the scene on Thursday night, promising the full assistance of the state. "It's a desperate situation here and we don't yet know the cause of the fire," he told NBC News, shortly after arriving.

Television footage showed an excavator being used to dig up a section of boardwalk, in order to create a fire line, and a fire truck drawing water from a motel swimming pool. Authorities said several firefighters and residents were being treated for smoke inhalation. There were no other early reports of any injuries.

"It's raging," said a real estate agent, Michael Loundy, who works on tourism-related projects with the borough of Seaside Heights, as he watched fire companies battle the flames. "It is absolutely raging. The wind is blowing something fierce, making it very difficult for firefighters to fight."

[Cooley Hurd]

1. I just saw video of it on MSNBC. All of this after Sandy!!!

[malaise]

2. My exact feelings

Good grief!

[BeyondGeography]

3. Nasty

[HockeyMom]

4. Poor people of New Jersey

They have suffered enough. I was back in NY staying with my daughter when Sandy hit. They were very lucky and didn't have any damage. I know others not so lucky.

[malaise]

5. Anderson Cooper showing it - still burning- serious wind

19 buildings destroyed - 400 firefighters on scene. How much more can people take?? Horrible!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Good lord...that smoke!!!

No way could anyone breath well downwind of the actual fire.

[malaise]

7. Anderson Cooper is showing the fire

on CNN - horrific. at is rotten luck - Hurricane Sandy and now this.

[PotatoChip]

8. This is so sad. (nt)

Here is a link:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/12/20461334-fire-rages-on-jersey-shore-spreads-to-boardwalk?lite

[ellenrr]

9. 80% of boardwalk destroyed, 50-60 businesses - update,

The area of the boardwalk between Stockton and Farragut Avenues, in front of Funtown Pier, was not destroyed during Superstorm Sandy, but the pier itself was, becoming a symbolic image of the storm's destruction.

An estimated 90% of the 33 rides on Funtown Pier were lost in the storm. The pier, which was not open this summer, became fully engulfed in flames, destroying the small portion that was left standing after the storm.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Fire-Along-Boardwalk-in-Seaside-Park--223511611.html

terrible

[malaise]

10. Really aweful

Thanks for the update

[B Calm]

11. Why didn't they attack it from the air like they do for forest fires?

[malaise]

12. I'm clueless on these matters

but it's a good question

[HappyMe]

13. They are still dumping water on it.