NEW JERSEY 2 shore towns suffer again

Associated Press

SEASIDE PARK, N.J.

They were the kind of places that made for family memories of french fries and ice cream, but also created some raucous reality TV.

And now they’re gone, reduced to smoldering ruins by a fire that engulfed more than four blocks of a Jersey shore boardwalk that had been rebuilt just five months ago after being destroyed by superstorm Sandy.

The cause of Thursday’s blaze was under investigation, though prosecutors said they had seen no evidence it was suspicious.

Three police officers leaving the fire scene were injured Friday when they fell from an emergency vehicle; two suffered head injuries. A county spokesman said the officers were “stable and recovering.”

Gov. Chris Christie, as he did just after the Oct. 29 storm, vowed the two towns would rebuild.

President Barack Obama praised the first-responders who helped fight the fire and pledged support for state and local efforts to rebuild and recover again.

Christie said about 30 businesses were destroyed, although authorities in the two towns said Thursday more than 50 businesses had been wrecked, including 32 in Seaside Park and more than 20 in Seaside Heights.