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Post by wildre on Dec 12, 2005 10:57:15 GMT -5
From 98.7TheCoast website
12/12/05 - UPDATE: Cause Of Wildwood Boardwalk Fire Declared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fire investigators have released the cause of Friday afternoon's big fire on the Wildwoods boardwalk. Wildwood Fire Chief Conrad Johnson told our Scott Wahl this morning that the cause of the fire was electrical in nature; it was caused by a fan inside a ceiling heating unit at the Shore Plaza Motel.
Johnson says fire crews have formally handed over the fire scene to the owners of the property. He says the fire was a very difficult fire to fight, and there were four different attempts to fight the fire inside the hotel. Johnson says that after four attempts, a decision was made to fight the fire from the perimeter, and ladders and other fire equipment were used.
Fire crews stayed on the scene of the fire through Saturday evening, knocking down some hotspots and then putting them out. Johnson says five firefighters suffered minor injuries in the blaze, but everyone's ok. He joked that the firemen have had an endless supply of coffee and aspirin since the fire started Friday afternoon.
The hotel, along with some other businesses are a total loss. The very popular Sam's Pizza Palace, a Rita's Water Ice, and another shop were destroyed by the fire. Johnson says everything else at the fire scene, including the boardwalk and an amusement pier, were unscathed.
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Post by Cindy on Dec 12, 2005 12:32:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the article. I didnt get a chance to read anything else about the fire.
Such a shame
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Post by Al Alven on Dec 12, 2005 14:02:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the article, wildre.
I'm just glad that the cause wasn't (or doesn't appear to be) anything to do with arson.
It's a shame... in fact, it's almost unfathomable to lose such an iconic landmark structure. I'm sure it won't fully sink in until I see the empty lot when I visit the Wildwoods some time next week.
Hopefully, some good will come of this. If the owners do decide to rebuild, it will be the first major motel construction on the island in some time.
This, coupled with some of the new potential highrise projects could help jumpstart a new trend on the island. You never know.
It's just such a big loss, I have to try to look at every possible positive angle in an attempt to "rationalize" it all.
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Post by MMM on Dec 12, 2005 21:13:19 GMT -5
I wonder why that heating unit was running? I noticed what looked to me like an apartment for the owners on the Motel - did the owners stay there in the winter?
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Post by Cindy on Dec 13, 2005 10:14:45 GMT -5
Martin, the news mentioned that there was construction/renovations going on. Maybe that explains why the heaters were running.
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Post by MMM on Dec 13, 2005 20:23:37 GMT -5
Thanks Cindy.
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Post by FlyinGN on Dec 13, 2005 20:54:01 GMT -5
I heard same thing.... Overheated fan motor caused it:(
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Post by wildre on Dec 13, 2005 21:58:42 GMT -5
Found this on the Herald website WILDWOOD- The County Fire Marshal's Office, County Prosecutor's Office, and State Police investigators have determined a fire that destroyed the Shore Plaza Motel at 26th Avenue and the Boardwalk was caused by an electrical heating unit in the ceiling of a third floor room. "There was a void space in the ceiling up there and the fire was able to spread from the east to the west end of the building," said to Wildwood Fire Chief Conrad Johnson. "It was probably spreading in that area well before we arrived." www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/articles/155/1/Fire-breaks-out-in-Wildwood%2C-Friday-afternoon
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Post by homer on Dec 13, 2005 22:01:31 GMT -5
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Post by wildre on Dec 13, 2005 22:27:55 GMT -5
Homer, Thanks for the article. Pathetic is an understatement!!!!!
re
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Post by FlyinGN on Dec 14, 2005 12:01:35 GMT -5
I have never had a Sams pizza but when they do rebuild I definetly will... I like their attitude..
Frank
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Post by hulk007 on Dec 14, 2005 20:35:07 GMT -5
I am glad they will rebuild. It seems like wildwood fires are a common occurance even thought this was an accident
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Post by Doowopper on Dec 14, 2005 20:49:32 GMT -5
As Al said, if they do rebuild, this will be the first construction of a motel in Wildwood in a while, and alot of good could come from it. I wish the owners the best.
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MaryH
Junior Member
Posts: 91
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Post by MaryH on Dec 16, 2005 10:57:37 GMT -5
I hope they do rebuild. The hotel's balconies overlooking the boardwalk is such a common fixture for me that it will be strange not seeing them. Very sad.
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Post by homer on Jan 4, 2006 2:52:10 GMT -5
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