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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, nearly 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.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 50 businesses were damaged or destroyed in the blaze.
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 at about 14:30 local time (18:30 GMT) and was swept northward by winds of up to 40mph (65 km/h) through the popular tourist towns of Seaside Park and Seaside Heights, which was the setting for MTV's reality show, Jersey Shore.
Local highways and bridges were temporarily closed as emergency crews worked to stop the blaze. No serious injuries have been reported.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 (15m) trench in the sand to stop its progress.Roughly 400 firefighters contained the fire about five hours later by digging a 50ft (15m) 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. Seaside Heights mayor Bill Akers told the New Jersey Star-Ledger newspaper the fire could have been much worse if construction equipment used to dig the trench had not already been near the boardwalk.
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. But many residents were still in disbelief. "We asked a lot of our people after the hurricane, and now we're going to ask again," he told the newspaper.
Gov Christie said several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. He refused to speculate about the cause of the blaze.
As an investigation began on Friday, officials said there was no immediate indication whether the fire was suspicious or accidental.
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 of damage and killing more than 130 people.