SEASIDE PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – Crews continue to battle a massive fire raging on the Seaside Park, N.J. boardwalk.
The fire started at the iconic Kohr’s Frozen Custard at 1800 Boardwalk at around 2:15 p.m.
It quickly reached five alarms before jumping to six shortly before 4 p.m.
Multiple witnesses who work in the shops surrounding the ice cream shop told CBS 2 that they heard a series of popping noises from under the boardwalk attached to the shops before the fire broke out.
Then they saw flames erupting from electrical wires under the boardwalk, starting a small fire that spread into the custard shop, which fueled the fire.
The fire spread to several neighboring buildings, and black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky.
The heavy smoke could be seen from miles away, CBS 2′s Tracee Carrasco reported from the scene.
The FunTown Pier was completely engulfed in flames and started to collapse as of 6 p.m.
Heavy construction equipment was used around 5 p.m. to break the boardwalk to create a fire line of sorts to stop the fire from spreading, Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy told WCBS 880. The part of the boardwalk that’s being destroyed in an effort to stop the spread of the blaze actually survived superstorm Sandy.
Orange flames were seen ripping through a strip mall on the boardwalk, WCBS 880′s Jim Smith reported from the scene.
The fire was far from being contained or controlled as of 5:50 p.m., Smith reported. The powerful fire hoses looked more like garden hoses in trying to battle the flames, Smith reported.
Several firefighters and area residents have suffered some heat-related injuries, CBS 2′s Dave Carlin reported. It is unclear the extent of the injuries.
The wind is pushing the fire along north on the shore, Fire Tactics Expert Glenn Corbett told CBS 2.
Crews said they were having problems getting adequate water and with flying embers spreading the fire due to winds in the area, CBS Philly reported. Some embers had blown as many as four blocks away.
“It’s stretching at least two blocks in Seaside Park, south side of the boardwalk area. There were some other spot fires that started up from embers on different buildings but the Seaside Heights and other fire appartuses there were very successful containing those in a short period of time,” Mastronardy told WCBS 880.
Lifelong residents told Carlin they feel like they’ve been punched in the gut as they watch the boardwalk and numerous buildings on it get gobbled up by flames.
Firefighters from near and far are assisting in the battle.
“We have activated our EOC – our Emergency Operating Center – and we are providing whatever support we can right now to the emergency responders that are on the scene in Seaside Heights,” Donna Flynn with the Ocean County OEM told WCBS 880.
Gov. Chris Christie announced via Twitter around 5:30 p.m. that he was heading to Seaside to see the blaze firsthand.
En route to Seaside now. Pls keep everyone in the surrounding areas, the firefighters & first responders fighting the blaze in ur prayers.—
Governor Christie (@GovChristie) September 12, 2013
“Pictures and video of the fire are startling and sad given what Seaside Park and neighboring Seaside Heights have endured with Superstorm Sandy. Governor Christie is deeply concerned and will get a first-hand look shortly at the scene, where he will be speaking further with Mayor Matthies and Mayor Akers and offering the state’s full resources and assistance. Our concerns and prayers are also with firefighters and first responders at the scene battling the blaze,” the governor’s spokesman said in a statement.
Stay with CBSNewYork.com for more on this developing story.
Filed under: Consumer, Local, News, NJ News, Radio.com - News, Syndicated Local, Syndication Tagged: Donna Flynn, Fire, five-alarm fire, Gov Chris Christie, Hurricane Sandy, jim smith, Kohr's Frozen Custard, Michael Mastronardy, Ocean County OEM, Seaside Park, six-alarm fire, Superstorm Sandy, Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy, Tracee Carrasco 
