Fire at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City Has Investigators Digging Through the Ashes

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 20, 2023

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In Atlantic City, New Jersey, investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that occurred on the Boardwalk the previous day. The fire affected a portion of the historic walkway and caused damage to the facade of Resorts Casino.

Despite the damage to the main Boardwalk entrance, Resorts is still operational, using a secondary entrance on the Boardwalk and several entrances on its side facing the parking lots.

As of Thursday afternoon, the casino is permitting patrons to enter from the Boardwalk through an undamaged door, while the remaining entrance is blocked off by metal barriers.

The fire erupted just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, damaging sections of the casino’s Boardwalk-facing facade, including an awning and casino doors. Fire Chief Scott Evans stated on Thursday that the cause of the fire had not been determined yet.

Investigators were exploring various possibilities, including an electrical malfunction in the numerous utility lines beneath the wooden walkway or the chance that individuals seeking shelter under the Boardwalk, possibly homeless, unintentionally started the fire.

A similar incident in February, which authorities attributed to homeless individuals, burned up to the edge of Ocean Casino Resort but spared the building itself.

Approximately 30 firefighters successfully brought the Wednesday fire under control within 40 minutes, and no injuries were reported.

Mark Giannantonio, the president and CEO of Resorts, expressed amazement at the rapid response of the fire department. He noted that they arrived within minutes and successfully extinguished the blaze.

Two food establishments near the fire site have been shut down pending inspections by health officials, while a restaurant across the boardwalk experienced a power outage earlier on Thursday.

The lobby area near the fire was evacuated at the time of the incident, but casino officials confirmed that individuals were allowed back in shortly after. Mark Giannantonio noted that witnessing a fire right on the boardwalk is not a common occurrence.

In February, a fire occurred, resulting in damage to a section of the boardwalk near New Jersey Avenue. It was concluded to be accidental, attributed to individuals beneath the boardwalk, as confirmed by officials.

While the cause of Wednesday’s fire has not been definitively established, potential factors include utilities beneath the boardwalk or involvement from a homeless encampment. City officials have recently initiated efforts to address this issue, aiming to connect individuals with resources to combat homelessness.

Scott Evans, the Atlantic City Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator, stressed the importance of addressing homeless issues on the boardwalk, securing it, and ensuring safety, stating that it is a top priority for their team.