Fire Destroyed Parts Of Recently Rebuilt Jersey Shore Boardwalk
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A stretch of boardwalk devastated by Superstorm Sandy last year was destroyed again, this time by a raging fire in Seaside Park, New Jersey Thursday.
The fire broke out at Kohr's Frozen Custard and quickly spread to nearby building at the Funtown Amusement Pier, fire officials said.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was on scene within hours.
"I feel like I want to throw up," Gov. Christie said.
Witnesses watched in shock as a building collapsed.
"By the time we got back, it was just thick black smoke," one witness said. "We looked over and everything was just in flames."
Firefighters tried to reach the blaze from cherry-pickers, but ocean winds and tar roofs fueled the flames, push them north to neighboring Seaside Heights.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," one man exclaimed. "I walked back down to the street and within fifteen minutes there was more flames than I've ever seen in my life."
Seaside Heights was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy last year.
"After all the effort and time and resources that we've put into helping the folks in Seaside Park and Seaside heights rebuild, to see this going on… it's just unthinkable," Gov. Christie said.
Christie has promised state help.
"This is us," he said. "So as soon as this is over, we'll pick ourselves up and we'll dust ourselves off and we'll get back to work."
About 400 firefighters from companies across the state joined in the effort
Some were treated for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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