Three buildings were burned and 85 residents displaced in a five-alarm fire that started in an Atlantic City rooming house.
Nearly 100 firefighters were on scene at the South Georgia Avenue blaze, with about three dozen other emergency personnel, Fire Chief Scott Evans said.
Five people were injured, including one who tried to escape out a fourth-floor window and another who jumped from the third floor, Evans said.
Ladder 2 rescued a resident from the fourth floor in a situation Evans said was "very, very, very tough."
A resident next door to the building posted a Facebook Live showing one man try to escape out a window. As he tried to climb down he fell.
The woman screamed and said she believed he died.
There were no reports of fatalities, however. Two residents were taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., Evans said. Three others were sent AtlantiCare Regional Center's City Campus.
Four firefighters also were hospitalized, Evans said. Three suffered from heat exhaustion while the fourth had an ankle injury.
The fire began around 7:45 a.m., with firefighters arriving to flames on the third floor of the four-story Hotel Cassino at 28 S. Georgia Ave.
But Evans said residents indicated there was fire on the first floor. Investigators were inside the building around 1:30 p.m. to determine when and how the fire started.
There was a total recall for all firefighters in the city. A call also went out to county fire coordinators.
Absecon, Bargaintown, Brigantine, Margate, Absecon, Ventnor, Longport, Northfield, Oceanville, Pleasantville, Linwood and Somers Point responded.
"One of the biggest challenges was the smoke," Evans said. "The pressure kept the smoke banked low. We're literally fighting a fire in these buildings and you can't even see. That was persistent for hours."
Evans called it one of the toughest fire battles they have had, exacerbated by smoke and hazardous conditions inside the building.
The fire did spread to surrounding buildings, but firefighters were able to make a stop at another rooming house at 24 S. Georgia Ave.
The approximately 53 residents there — including 44 J-1 students — are displaced but not long-term, he said.
The same cannot be said for 28 or 26. Both buildings likely will be a knockdown, he said.
The initial building at 28 S. is a definite loss, displacing 24 people.
Eight were displaced from the property at 26 S. Georgia, which has an A and B.
Mayor Marty Small praised the public safety response.
“Great job by the fine men and women in blue of the Atlantic City Fire Department,” he said. “And kudos to our neighboring cities who helped in a big way to try to get the situation under control.”
Atlantic City police also were on scene and worked to keep the area clear of people and traffic.
One of those displaced works for the city, Small said.
“We’re rallying around one of our Public Works workers who, unfortunately, lost everything,” he said.
Atlantic City Health and Human Services Director Jarrod Barnes and Licensing and Inspections Director Dale Finch were working with residents who are displaced, Small said.
A reunification center was set up at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall to help residents with relocation. Social services were on hand, Evans said.
The Red Cross is assisting.
Flame can be seen below the heavy smoke. (Photo by Termel Timberlake)
