Historic Hotel Burning in New Jersey Resort

Sept. 28--Flames are shooting out of the roof of the Bellevue Hotel in Ocean City and nearby buildings have been evacuated as firefighters work to bring the fire under control.

Smoke is coming out of the fourth floor facing Ocean Avenue and fire crews are blocking off the streets nearby. Smoke is filling the neighborhoods of the island's north end, and police are warning onlookers to stay out of the smoke because of asbestos concerns.

Police have ordered the evacuation of the next-door Blue Water Motel, the Surf Cafe and a nearby home, said Police Sgt. Dennis Jones.

Cape May County's Office of Emergency Management is also on scene and is monitoring the air quality. The county has brought in its CBRNE team, which deals with chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and explosive threats, to monitor air quality downwind of the fire.

An excavator that was demolishing a part of the building while it was still burning flipped over, but there were no injuries. Fuel was spilling from the excavator, so a trench was dug around the accident scene.

Ocean City Fire Department spokesman Ray Clark said crews are expected to be on the scene for hours. He said there may not be firestops in the walls of the structure, and officials are monitoring it for collapse.

Smoke from the fire is wafting through the downtown and residents and visitors alike are watching from every nearby corner, even as police are warning them of the potential dangers of the air.

Dan Ash, who lives in an upper-floor apartment on Asbury Avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets, was watching the scene from his living room.

"Looking out of my window now, the smoke is pretty thick," Ash said by telephone. "I heard sirens this morning for 10 minutes straight, and at first I didn't know what was going on. Right now, there are three ladder trucks fighting the fire."

Police Chief Chad Callahan said police have a four-block perimeter around the burning building and are advising to steer clear of it.

Meanwhile, the building's roof is starting to sag from the fire and water being poured on it.

Demolition crews said Friday they were planning on removing "truckloads of asbestos" prior to the fire. Crews were using blowtorches to remove fire escapes.

Four ladder trucks are helping ground-based crews fight the fire, and the surrounding Eighth and Ninth streets are being flooded with water coming up through storm drains. Fire crews from Egg Harbor Township and other municipalities were on the scene.

Crews are filtering the water they are using to fight the fire for debris, but ponding in the downtown area is occurring.

Ocean City School District officials put out an automated phone call, telling parents that their students were "safe" inside the nearby high school.

The fire was reported about 10:30 a.m. The structure is in the process of being torn down. Demolition began Thursday.

Heavy smoke is visible from the Route 52 causeway entering the city. Multiple fire crews from the mainland are en route or are already on the scene.

Officials said a crane and an excavator will be brought in to resume demolition once the fire is extinguished.

Copyright 2012 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.