4-alarm fire breaks out at Atlantic City apartment high-rise near Tropicana Hotel & Casino
Large fire erupts in Atlantic City 13-story high rise with no sprinkler system
A 4-alarm apartment fire broke out early Wednesday morning in Atlantic City near Tropicana Hotel & Casino, one of the town's most popular casinos.
ATLANTIC CITY - Firefighters in Atlantic City battled a 4-alarm apartment fire early Wednesday morning that erupted near one of the shore town's most popular casinos.
What we know:
Firefighters from the Atlantic City Fire Department were called to the Brighton Towers apartment building near the Tropicana Hotel and Casino around 5 a.m.
Officials say heavy flames consumed parts of the 8th floor and climbed to several floors above in the 13-story high rise.
Five residents were treated by medics at the scene and one police officer was briefly hospitalized for smoke inhalation, officials said at a press conference.
The building was not equipped with sprinklers, making the firefight more difficult for crews that needed to lug heavy hoses and equipment up several floors.
What they're saying:
Firefighter provide update on Atlantic City apartment fire
Firefighters in Atlantic City battled a 4-alarm apartment fire early Thursday morning that erupted near one of the shore town's most popular casinos.
Leonel Bustillo, who has lived in the building for 12 years, said, "It was crazy. We’ve never seen anything like this. You know? The smoke you can smell it." Bustillo described seeing debris falling and said, "It was a little rough. My 6 year old was with me and he was like papi what’s going on, what’s going on."
David Nickel, another resident, recalled, "They told us all to get out, we came down the stairs because we couldn’t take the elevator and then we came out and saw the flames."
Residents said police and firefighters moved quickly to get everyone out.
"Everybody started running out and then the cops came in started knocking on doors trying to get everyone out. Which is great they did an amazing job," said Bustillo.
Nearly 400 residents live in the 168-unit building, and officials confirmed that no one was hurt.
What we don't know:
Firefighters believe the fire originated in an 8th floor bedroom, but they did not say what sparked the blaze.
What they're saying:
Atlantic City Public Safety Director Sean Riggin lauded the speed and efficiency firefighters worked with to extinguish the fire.
"The speed with which the Atlantic City Fire Department put this fire out no doubt saved lives," he said.