Atlantic City had two suspected arsons fires within a half-hour late Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters were first called to 33 N. Rhode Island Ave. just before 4 p.m., Fire Chief Scott Evans said.
Then, at 4:22 p.m., they were called to 45 N. Massachusetts Ave., less than two blocks away.
Both homes were vacant, he said. And both are being labeled suspected arson.
No injuries have been reported.
John Varallo, president of the firefighters union, said this is why the state's cuts are dangerous.
"It's times like tonight, the Jeffries Towers high-rise fire — which was fought in a blizzard last year — and the collapse at the Tropicana parking garage that solidify why this union fights so hard to protect our staffing and work conditions so that we can provide superior service for the residents, work force, visitors and billion-dollar businesses," he said.
"The politicians and attorneys billing millions in taxpayer money can forget calls and situations like those above, however we cannot," Varallo added. "Local 198 continues the fight against the state's dangerous imposed cuts in order to protect the residents and visitors of Atlantic City."
