Unless you haven’t turned on your television and computer for the past week, you’ve probably heard about the fire that ravaged a large part of the boardwalk in Seaside Park, New Jersey. This fire, which started around 2 p.m. in the afternoon of September 12, destroyed most of Seaside Park’s commercial boardwalk before firefighters were able to put it out. Initially, some people suspected the fire may not have been accidental. Seaside Park was one of the places hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy last year, and the season was a poor one for many businesses. In light of this, many thought the conditions surrounding the fire as suspicious. Investigators have recently determined that the fire was caused by electrical problems, but Hurricane Sandy may still have been to blame.
Sandy Strikes Back
Saltwater is a highly corrosive material and can cause severe damage to any material it comes in contact with. Following a hurricane, many homeowners find they have to repair or replace parts of their property that have been damaged by seawater. If the water gets into a building’s foundation, the consequences can be severe. During Hurricane Sandy, many parts of New Jersey and neighboring areas were submerged in saltwater, and that kind of exposure has widespread consequences. In nearby New York City, the MTA has shut down the Montague Tubes connecting the R line from Brooklyn to Manhattan in order to repair extensive electrical damage to the subway system.
Had the businesses in Seaside Park taken similar precautions, the fire may have been prevented. Unfortunately, many of the wires along the boardwalk were inaccessible due to the enormous amount of sand shifted during the storm. The Seaside Park fire broke out inside Kohr’s frozen custard stand, where the electrical wires had been submerged in seawater for some time during the hurricane. These wires had been corroded from the salt, and were clearly prone to failure. In light of the catastrophic damage caused by the fire, the local police force recommends all businesses and homes along the shoreline have their electrical systems checked.
Storm Conditions Were a Breeding Ground for the Fire
Bystanders likened the fire to a flue or chimney. The shift in the sand under and around the boardwalk did create an ideal environment for the fire to grow. The new patterns of the sand left pockets of air under the boardwalk, which allowed the fire to expand quickly. As the sand rendered many areas inaccessible, it was also difficult for firefighters to get under the fire. Several times, the flames, spurred by the heat under the boardwalk, leaped over the firefighters as they tried to put it out.
The fire hit an area which had already suffered incredible damage last fall. Many business owners fear they will not be able to come back from the hit. Following the hurricane, many businesses took it upon themselves to make repairs, as waiting on the relief money would cause them to miss the season. Governor Chris Christie has promised 15 million dollars of relief money to be delegated to the victims of the fire, and he’s said he’ll do his best to get them the money as soon as possible. In light of the financial burden they’ve already undergone, though, many are uncertain about the future. The shore has taken a beating this year, hopefully they can do all that they can to have another successful summer to make back some money they lost. Promoting themselves and getting new visitors will be a key ingredient in their come back. They should consider hiring a SEO Company Go to promote them online so they can get back to where they used to be.