Seaside Park in New Jersey declared a state of emergency amid a massive, 10-alarm fire roaring on the boardwalk.
The fire is believed to have began at an ice cream parlor before spreading to other buildings.
ABC-7 reported that the police chief declared a state of emergency in the town.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was on hand, delivering a press conference, and he said he is concerned the fire will spread north of the boardwalk.
He told people: “Do not come here,” adding that it is unclear what caused the fire.
“It’s unthinkable. I can only imagine how the residents and business owners are feeling,” he said. “This is something that is going to go on for quite some time, and we need to have easy access to this boardwalk,” he added.
He said there were minor injuries among several of the few hundred firefighters on hand battling the blaze.
Video footage of the scene shows that the fire has spread to at least eight blocks.
“You can feel it from a block away it’s so hot,” Seaside Park Police Chief Francis Larkin told the Asbury Park Press.
“As it continues to burn the boardwalk and out buildings, it is very, very hard to stop. There is so much wood structure up there,” borough administrator John Camera added. “Right now we can’t say much other than they are doing their best to contain an out-of-control fire.”
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