Flames consume New Jersey boardwalk that survived Superstorm Sandy

Billows of smoke rolled gently out over the ocean early Friday in New Jersey after firefighters defeated the behemoth blaze that spawned them. Superstorm Sandy had left Seaside Park’s boardwalk wracked but repairable a year ago. But the flames that raged for nine hours Thursday consumed four blocks of it. By the time the fire crew of hundreds managed to corral the fire, it had destroyed or damaged 50 businesses, CNN affiliate WCBS reported. The firefighters had come from nearly 30 nearby towns and arrived at the blaze with 35 engine companies and 15 ladders. By 11 p.m. ET they had the fire under control, but well after midnight, 500 firefighters continued their work, WCBS reported. The glare of spotlights they set illuminated the swaths as they rose up into the night from the silently smoldering rubble.