Fire destroys New Jersey Boardwalk [View all]

[malaise]

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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."