Hurricane Sandy found responsible for NJ boardwalk fire

The massive blaze has been linked to faulty wiring damaged in last year's storm

Published September 17, 2013 6:49PM (EDT)

It sounded like a tragic coincidence that the stretch of New Jersey boardwalk destroyed in a fire last week was still recovering from destruction wrought by Superstorm Sandy. But it turns out the storm, which occurred last year, is the most likely cause of the blaze.

The fire, authorities announced today, is linked to faulty electrical wiring that had been compromised by Sandy.

Over 50 businesses in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights were destroyed in the 6-alarm blaze. As the AP originally reported: "The flames were destroying new boardwalk wood that had just been replaced days before Memorial Day weekend as both towns raced to recover from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy."

Said Seaside Park Mayor Robert Matthies: “This is another tremendous wrench in the recovery.”


By Lindsay Abrams

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