The Ocean City Fire Department responded to the 1000-block Boardwalk at about 7:40 a.m. Saturday.
Arriving firefighters found flames moving rapidly through a building structure that includes Playland’s Castaway Cove arcade and offices, the Hamburger Construction Company restaurant and Dairy Queen.
A three-block perimeter was set up by emergency officers to fight the fire. The Action Cam showed firefighters fighting the flames.
Viewer video captured heavy flames and black smoke rising across the promenade. The giant wheel of Playland’s Castaway Cove disappeared when the smoke blew out. Firefighters could be heard shouting at passers-by, “People, you must stay back!”
Officials said the fire was under control late Saturday morning, but firefighters remained at the scene to work to extinguish the fire completely.
Officials said a westerly wind ignited the fire, but probably spared neighboring buildings. Required structural firewalls between properties also worked effectively, they said.
No one was in the building at the time and there were no fire injuries reported. Officials said respondents will be judged for injuries related to the extreme cold.
The building suffered major damage. Officials said there currently appears to be no structural damage to the Boardwalk.
Chopper 6 was at the scene around 11 a.m. and noticed the fire damage.
Castaway Cove has posted a message on its Facebook page confirming that the amusement park is suffering. Officials told guests they were going to rebuild, and for now, they will use a secondary entrance:
“To our family and loyal guests, we thank them all for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We want to thank all the first responders for their hard work and pray for their continued safety during today’s events. We are struggling. to understand this morning’s events and what the next few months will be like, but we can assure you, WE WILL REBUILD !! We have a secondary entrance that will now be our main entrance for the foreseeable future. be open later! Embrace your loved ones for now, pray for the first responders and know that we will be back in the spring of 2021! “
People were advised to avoid the area as the reaction continued until noon. Officials said full access to the section of the Boardwalk will be restored as conditions allow.
Adjacent agencies, including the Marmora Volunteer Fire Department, Longport Volunteer Fire Department, Margate Fire Department, Somers Point Fire Department, Tuckahoe Volunteer Fire Company, Seaville Volunteer Fire Company and Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company, provided assistance, along with Sea police units. Isle City, Egg Harbor Township, Longport, Linwood and Northfield, AtlantiCare and Upper Township Rescue Groups, and the Cape May County Regional Urban Search Team (RUST).
The cause of the fire is currently unknown and it is still being investigated.
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