Boardwalk Store Catches Fire In Ocean City: Officials

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A fire was extinguished on the Boardwalk last week, according to Ocean City firefighters.

Ocean City firefighters were called to the 1100 block of the Boardwalk on Aug. 20 after reports of an odor of something burning, according to officials. Callers reported there was no smoke condition, but that changed when crews arrived.

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Acting Battalion Chief R. Clark found smoke inside a first-floor commercial storefront and upgraded the response to a box alarm, according to officials. First-arriving companies began investigating, secured a water supply, stretched a hoseline and opened the ceiling to find the source of the smoke.

Firefighters then found a working fire extending through void spaces in the building, conditions officials said were consistent with the property's early 1900s construction. Additional companies searched the floor above and opened up more of the structure to reach the fire.

As conditions worsened, crews dealt with high heat and heavy labor, prompting a working fire dispatch, according to the account. That response recalled off-duty personnel and brought in mutual aid coverage for the island while crews continued to work inside the building.

Firefighters were eventually able to expose the fire from the floor above and put it out, preventing further spread and significant property damage, authorities said. Companies remained at the scene for several hours.

All occupants were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported, according to officials. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Cape May County Fire Marshal's Office.