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| Fire ravages New Jersey boardwalk a year after Sandy | Fire ravages New Jersey boardwalk a year after Sandy |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A stretch of beachside boardwalk in the US state of New Jersey has been ravaged by fire, just one year after Superstorm Sandy tore through the area. | A stretch of beachside boardwalk in the US state of New Jersey has been ravaged by fire, just one year after Superstorm Sandy tore through the area. |
| The fire started near an ice cream shop on Thursday afternoon and spread quickly through buildings in two towns, authorities said. | |
| An estimated 20 businesses were completely destroyed, authorities said. | An estimated 20 businesses were completely destroyed, authorities said. |
| New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called the damage "unthinkable" in areas already struggling to rebuild. | New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called the damage "unthinkable" in areas already struggling to rebuild. |
| The fire started about 14:30 local time (18:30 GMT) and was swept northward by strong winds through the popular tourist towns of Seaside Park and Seaside Heights. | The fire started about 14:30 local time (18:30 GMT) and was swept northward by strong winds through the popular tourist towns of Seaside Park and Seaside Heights. |
| Local highways and bridges were temporarily closed as emergency crews worked to stop the blaze. No serious injuries have been reported. | |
| Roughly 400 firefighters contained the fire about five hours later by digging a 50ft trench in the sand to stop its progress. | Roughly 400 firefighters contained the fire about five hours later by digging a 50ft trench in the sand to stop its progress. |
| Mr Christie said several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. He refused to speculate about the cause of the blaze. | Mr Christie said several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. He refused to speculate about the cause of the blaze. |
| A local official called the fire "another tremendous wrench" in the recovery of a tourist area already hard-hit by Sandy, which tore through the north-eastern US in October 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage and killing more than 130 people. | A local official called the fire "another tremendous wrench" in the recovery of a tourist area already hard-hit by Sandy, which tore through the north-eastern US in October 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage and killing more than 130 people. |