On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 15, 2023, a fire broke out at the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, causing damage to the marquee sign and walls of the building. The fire also prompted the temporary evacuation of a nearby restaurant and other businesses in the vicinity.
According to reports, large plumes of smoke and flames were visible from the casino building. The Atlantic City Fire Department was alerted about the fire at 3:48 p.m., and approximately 30 firefighters quickly responded to the scene. It took about 40 minutes for the two-alarm fire to be brought under control, with crews using chainsaws to open up the Boardwalk to extinguish the flames that originated underneath the wooden structure.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the casino floor remained open during the incident. Atlantic City Fire Chief Scott Evans described the blaze as “pretty serious,” highlighting the gravity of the situation.
As of Wednesday night, fire officials were still investigating the cause of the fire, with speculation that it may have been due to an electrical malfunction from utilities near the Boardwalk or an accident involving homeless residents attempting to keep warm.
In the aftermath of the fire, crews from the Atlantic City Department of Public Works Boardwalk joined efforts to repair the damaged areas. However, fire officials were unable to provide an immediate estimate of the extent of the damage caused by the blaze.
Aris Matos, a witness at the scene, recounted how he and his wife were eating at a casino restaurant when they noticed the smoke. He described the situation, saying that the smoke became increasingly thick, and a worker attempted to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames before evacuating the restaurant due to the growing intensity of the fire. Matos added that the facade and canopy of the casino were damaged, with parts of the canopy melting and dropping onto the Boardwalk due to the intense heat.
Overall, the incident at the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City serves as a reminder of the potential risks and consequences associated with fires in commercial establishments, highlighting the importance of fire safety and prevention measures.
