At a Glance
- A police officer was treated for smoke inhalation after responding to a two-alarm fire at Brighton Towers Condos.
- Heavy flames were seen coming from the eighth floor around 5:15 a.m. Wednesday.
- Investigators have not yet disclosed a cause or total damage.
- Why it matters: The incident shut down a major Atlantic City corridor during the early-morning commute and raised fresh safety concerns for high-rise residents.
A fast-moving apartment fire on Atlantic City’s boardwalk side injured a police officer and drew dozens of firefighters to the Brighton Towers Condos just after dawn on Wednesday.
Officer Hurt Battling Eighth-Floor Inferno
Crews were dispatched at 5:15 a.m. to the 2800 block of Atlantic Avenue after 911 calls reported flames shooting from an eighth-floor unit, officials told News Of Philadelphia.
Upon arrival, first responders found thick smoke banking down the hallway and fire venting through a shattered sliding-door window. A police officer who had raced up a stairwell to help evacuate residents was later evaluated by EMS for smoke inhalation, authorities said. His condition was not immediately released.
Two-Alarm Response Keeps Streets Closed
By 6:30 a.m., incident command escalated the operation to a two-alarm assignment, bringing ladder trucks from neighboring Pleasantville and Ventnor to bolster the city’s own crews. Firefighters stretched multiple hose lines through the lobby and up interior stairwells to reach the seat of the blaze.
- 5:15 a.m. – First 911 calls
- 5:22 a.m. – Engine companies on scene
- 6:30 a.m. – Two-alarm status declared
- 6:45 a.m. – Units still flowing water and checking for extension
Atlantic Avenue remained closed between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Raleigh Avenue while crews worked. Traffic detours were set up along the Pacific Avenue corridor, and residents were urged by emergency dispatchers to avoid the immediate beach-block area.
Cause and Damage Still Under Review
Fire officials did not speculate on what sparked the blaze. Inspectors from the city fire prevention bureau and a county regional arson unit were on scene before sunrise to photograph burn patterns and interview witnesses. Officials also declined to estimate the dollar amount of damage to the condo unit or to the high-rise’s common elements.
No other injuries were reported as of the last update, but EMS units staged in the building’s rear parking lot continued to evaluate residents reporting minor respiratory irritation from smoke that filtered into neighboring floors.
Robert K. Lawson reported that News Of Philadelphia crews saw charred furniture and drywall stacked in a ground-floor trash bay as displaced residents waited outside wrapped in blankets distributed by the Red Cross.
Building History and Safety Protocols
Brighton Towers, a 22-story oceanfront condominium built in the 1970s, has a dry-pipe standpipe system and centralized fire alarms that meet older codes. City records show the property passed its most recent fire-safety inspection in March, but that review did not include sprinkler retrofits, which are not required in pre-existing residential high-rises under state law unless major renovations exceed 50 percent of the building’s assessed value.
The condo board did not immediately respond to questions about whether additional alarms or strobe lights were activated or whether any units lacked working smoke detectors.
Morning Commute and Business Impact
The fire diverted at least four NJ Transit bus routes that normally stop in front of Brighton Towers, forcing riders to walk several blocks to temporary stops along Pacific Avenue. Local coffee shops and convenience stores inside the ground-floor retail arcade remained closed while the power utility cut electricity to the building as a safety precaution.
City public works teams spread absorbent material on Atlantic Avenue after water used in suppression efforts froze in patches, creating slip hazards as temperatures hovered around 28 degrees.
What Happens Next
- Fire investigators will complete a cause-and-origin report within 72 hours
- Building code officials will assess structural integrity before allowing residents back inside
- The injured officer will be placed on routine administrative leave while he recovers
- The condo association must file damage estimates with its insurance carrier within five business days
Officials stressed the investigation is active and urged anyone with photos or video of the early-morning conditions to contact the Atlantic City Police Department’s criminal investigation section.
News Of Philadelphia will update this story as additional details are confirmed.
