Fire-Rescue News- Fire forces evacuation of Atlantic City Linen but causes no injuries
By THOMAS BARLAS and ELAINE ROSE Staff Writers | Posted: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 | 2 comments
ATLANTIC CITY — A two-alarm fire fueled by burning lint rushed through the ductwork of a lint-collection system at AC Linen Supply on New Jersey Avenue, causing the building to be evacuated Wednesday afternoon, fire officials said. There were no injuries.
The fire at AC Linen, which launders much of the bedding and towels used in the city’s hotels, began shortly before.....Continue Reading
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2 p.m., fire Chief Dennis Brooks said.
Firefighters in aerial ladders poured water into the collection systems ductwork through vents in the roof. Flames were visible at one point burning through the vents.
The fire is believed to be accidental, apparently caused by heat from the dryers or a spark igniting lint that was collected in the duct system, Brooks said.
AC Linen President David Goldberg said there were about 80 employees in the building when the fire broke out. A fire suppression system in the building helped keep the fire down as the employees fled the building, he said. Some operations were shifted to the company’s facilities on Franklin Boulevard in Pleasantville, which has extra capacity for a situation such as this.
Employees who were evacuated from the building waited in the parking lot of the adjacent Shiloh Baptist Church, organizing rides to Pleasantville for some workers. The effort was somewhat difficult because many of the workers spoke little English.
AC Linen has about 300 employees overall, at plants in Atlantic City, Pleasantville and Connecticut, Goldberg said.
Goldberg praised the response of the Atlantic City Fire Department.
“The Fire Department was spectacular,” he said. “They responded instantly.”
Goldberg said cleaning out the ducts that collect lint is part of the daily maintenance routine at the plant. This is the first time the plant has had an incident like this in eight years at the location.
Dan Goldberg, the owner’s nephew who works as the vice president of administration, said he was in the office typing a proposal when the alarm went off and people started saying there was a fire.
“I ran into the plant, looked up and saw there was a fire,” Dan Goldberg said.
Several people grabbed fire extinguishers and started spraying towards the ceiling, which seemed to help, Dan Goldberg said. After ensuring employees were safe, the crew then pushed the linens — which belong to the customers — away from the area to protect them from any damage. Then the firefighters arrived and told them to leave the building.
The linens suffered some smoke damage and will have to be washed again, David Goldberg said.
Police closed off parts of Delaware and New Jersey avenues while the fire crews worked.
All told, 33 firefighters responded to the scene, on five engines, one rescue truck, one ladder and a unit to refill the firefighters’ air bottles, Brooks said.
Absecon emergency services also responded.
Aside from smoke damage and a little water from the sprinkler system, the plant sustained little damage, Brooks said. After the building was cleared of smoke, code enforcement officers would check the electrical system, and the building could be reopened later in the afternoon.
Contact Thomas Barlas: 609-272-7201 TBarlas@pressofac.com
Contact Elaine Rose: 609-272-7215 ERose@pressofac.com
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