No one hurt in midday blaze but customers evacuated
By BILL BARLOW/Special to the Sentinel
OCEAN CITY – Black, acrid smoke poured from the parking garage underneath the downtown Acme supermarket on Sunday.
A 12-year-old boy faces arson charges in connection with the fire. The child’s name was not released.
Detective Sgt. Dan Lancaster and Detective Matthew Crowley arrested him on Nov. 16, on charges including aggravate arson, risking widespread injury and aggravated assault, according to an announcement from Ocean City. He was released to his family pending an appearance in juvenile court.
The call came in at 12:55 p.m. Nov. 15. By 1:15 p.m., the fire was out, according to officials.
The store was evacuated, and no customer, employee or firefighter was injured, according to a statement released by Ocean City spokesman Doug Bergen.
The most visible damage was underneath the store, with some of the siding melted on the back of the store on Aldrich Road, where there was also visible scorching on the bricks.
According to Ocean City Fire Chief James Smith, most of the damage was in the garage, but smoke got into the building. He said representatives of the Cape May County Health Department inspected the store to determine what food items would have to be discarded.
No cause for the fire was yet available on Tuesday morning, and Smith said he could not give an estimate for the total cost of the damage.
The store will remain closed until further notice, according to the city statement. More information was expected to be released on Tuesday, after the print deadline.
A staff member at the store on Tuesday said any questions would have to be answered by the store manager, but the phone number for the store redirected to the Somers Point Acme. A message left there was not immediately returned.
The Margate Fire Department, the Marmora Fire Company and the Upper Township Rescue Squad provided mutual aid assistance.
In a message to residents on Sunday, Mayor Jay Gillian described it as fortunate that there were no injuries, and suggested residents and visitors plan to use other grocery stores in the meantime. Those who need a ride to other stores may contact OCNJ Care at 609-399-6111 or see www.ocnjcare.org.
The Acme at 800 West Ave. is within walking distance for many city residents. It is almost three miles to the other Acme location in Ocean City at 34th Street, and close to four miles to the Acme and ShopRite locations over the bridge in Somers Point.
Crews could be seen working under the building on Tuesday. Plywood covered the doorways leading to the parking area.