The Jersey Shore is burning

Huge fire raging in Seaside Park, which was hit hard by Sandy. It's where the roller coaster wound up in the ocean. fire started in an ice cream shop and has spread to 19 other buildings so far.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/09/seaside_heights_boardwalk_fire_kohrs_ice_cream_stand_ablaze.html#incart_maj-story-2

 

Gym, tan, evacuate.

 

Awesome

 

Did Situation' hair spray start the fire?

 

I think you mean Pauly.

 

Could be a controlled burn.

 

Well it didn't hit during the height of tourist season. "Stronger than the Storm!!!!!"

 

I feel really bad for loving this.

 

Fire is under control, although they'll be on scene through the night and tomorrow:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/09/seaside_park_boardwalk_fire_declared_under_control.html#incart_flyout_news

Forty to 50 businesses destroyed and 500 firefighters are on the scene. Reading some of the accounts almost sounds like an urban wildfire -- wind lifting embers and fanning the flames, ripping up sections of boardwalk to make fire breaks, and hoping for thunderstorms and a wind shift this evening to finally get it under control. Another story (not the one linked) said about a quarter mile of a 1-mile long boardwalk, and 20 percent or so of the businesses (some of which hadn't been reopened post-Sandy) were burned. Wild stuff.
Might not be a coincidence that this happened after Labor Day, but thank God it did. Could have been tragic if it were on a summer day.

 

#stts, am I right?

 

Man, I remember walking that boardwalk a few years back on a trip to bring a helicopter back from Lakehurst. There was an open-air sports bar, where I sat with one of my aviation idols, drank a few beers and people watched. It was one of those surreal nights you just don't forget. Of course, this was pre-Sandy, so I don't know if the place was rebuilt.

 

I don't know what it's like now but back in the 80s and early 90s, it seemed like every other kid from northern New Jersey spent their prom week in Seaside. Plenty of good memories for me.

It's horrible that this happened, but it's the tail end of the season and you'd hope that these folks who got burned out have the insurance to cover rebuilding.