Firefighters battle blaze on Long Beach Island
Firefighters are putting out hot spots following a 2-alarm fire at a wooden commercial building on Long Beach Island.
The fire at the corner of 21st Street and Long Beach Boulevard broke out around 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon in the 3-story building that houses the law office of Shackleton and Hazeltine. ABC 7 reports the fire is under control but the third floor appears to be heavily damaged.
Attorney Richard Shackleton's daughter Kate told the Asbury Park Press the fire started in pallets behind the building and tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.
Shackleton has been Long Beach Township and Beach Haven's municipal attorney according to the Press.
Jersey Shore Hurricane News reports that firefighters were trying to protect adjacent buildings which include the LBI Pancake House. A witness tweeted that some of the siding on the restaurant melted.
The Ocean County Police, Fire & EMS Facebook page reports that firefighters drew water out of the bay to fight the fire.
Several roads around the area are closed off or very slow according to New Jersey Fast Traffic preventing many beachgoers from easily heading home. No injuries have yet been reported and all firefighters are accounted for.
Crowds of people gathered along the sidewalk to watch the fire; ABC 7 reports the fire was seen for miles around.
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Fire Marshal's office and the Ocean County Sheriff's Criminalistics Investigations Unit are all investigating the fire.
MORE COVERAGE:
- Multi-alarm fire at commercial building in Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island / 7 ABC
- Firefighters battling multi-alarm structure fire in Ship Bottom / Newsworks
- Firefighters battle blaze at law firm building in Ship Bottom / Press of Atlantic City
- Fire burns Ship Bottom lawyer's office / Asbury Park Press