Let’s Hear It For Atlantic City Firefighters, First Responders

Thursday's fire will go down as a memorable day for the Atlantic City Fire Department.

Fire crews bravely worked for hours battling a five-alarm fire at a four-story rooming house on S. Georgia Avenue, with at least one courageous rescue of a trapped tenant on the fourth floor by an Atlantic City Firefighter.

Five Residents, Four Firefighters Hurt in Massive Blaze

The Atlantic City Fire Department is calling Thursday's fire "one of the most challenging fires we have had in a very long time."

The blaze reached five alarms, with smoke so thick that at times you couldn't see the building on fire The layout of the Hotel Cassino, with 30 rooms in one building and 40 in the other, made it a very complex and chaotic fire to fight.

Five residents were treated for injuries, two of them being airlifted to Crozer-Chester Medical Center where they are listed in critical condition.

Four Atlantic City Firefighters were injured as they put their lives on the line. Luckily, the ACFD says they will all be okay.

The Aftermath of Thursday's Fire

At least 76 residents of the building and two neighboring buildings have lost everything. Many are workers on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, including 44 foreign workers on J-1 visas.

The Red Cross and the Volunteers of America are working to relocate the fire victims. They are facing more tough days, but are lucky to be alive.

Those Deserving of Thanks

Many South Jersey fire companies responded in supporting roles during Thursday's fire.

A fire of this magnitude would have been impossible to fight without their assistance, including firefighters from Absecon, Bargaintown, Brigantine, Linwood, Longport, Margate, Northfield, Oceanville, Pleasantville, Somers Point, and Ventnor.

The state and local agencies who assisted included the Health and Human Services Department, the American Red Cross, and Volunteers of America.

The Atlantic City Police Department, the Atlantic City Office of Emergency Management, and, mostly, the brave men and women of the Atlantic City Fire Department.

By the way, the ACFD is now recruiting new members. Click this link for details.