Contributed by: CBrining
ATLANTIC CITY — An off-duty city firefighter is being credited with helping evacuate residents Thursday morning when flames ripped through an apartment building above a grocery store in Chelsea.
The blaze at 4403 Ventnor Ave. was reported just before 9:30 a.m. More than 40 firefighters battled flames and the 90-degree heat and humidty of the day, rotating in shifts to break for water, shade and sometimes oxygen.
Tax records indicate the building is owned by Alka and Bhavesh “Bob” Patel and is assessed at $445,700.
Buddy Mancuso, who lives two blocks away on Delancy Place, was on his porch when he..............Continue Reading with more photos
saw the smoke. He said an off-duty Atlantic City firefighter, William Rodgers, ran into the building to evacuate the residents. Mancuso called Rodgers a “hero.”
Rodgers, who remained on the scene wearing only black shorts and sneakers and riding a bicycle, declined to comment.
In addition to four Atlantic City fire stations, Absecon EMS and Atlantic City police responded to the scene.
An man who declined to give his name said his father lives in one of the apartments that were on fire and that everyone was able to leave the building.
Another family who lived in the same building stood by watching the fire for a few minutes, then walked away. They appeared shaken, and declined to comment.
Ricky Patel, owner of the A&B Market, said that he was about to go in and open his store when he received a phone call from a neighbor that the building was on fire. Patel said the store has been in the building for 80 years, and that he has owned it since 2004.
He said that he came to the scene immediately. Patel watched as the flames shot out the windows and black smoke billowed into the air. He said the fire had not yet spread into the first floor where his store was.
“Whatever happens, it’s going to happen. You can’t control it,” Patel said.
South Jersey Gas was on scene and had shut off the gas to the building. Workers said they were waiting to remove the meters.
Guardian said firefighters responded immediately and that there were no fatalities to report.
However, several firefighters were being treated by EMS on the scene.
“This is just a difficult fire because there has been a lot of construction done on the house,” Guardian said, referring to a multitude of interior walls.
He said that it was too early to tell what would happen to the building. He said that the city will work with American Red Cross to find temporary shelter for the two families affected and provide clothes and toiletries.
Guardian said that they will also help to find the families new permanent residences, if need be.
Contact: 609-272-7251
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