Almost all boardwalk businesses destroyed by fire in N.J. town still recovering from Sandy

Firefighters battle a raging fire on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J. that apparently started in an ice cream shop and has spread several blocks down, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. The boardwalk was damaged in Superstorm Sandy and was being repaired. (AP Photo/The Asbury Park Press, Erik Larsen) MANDATORY CREDIT: PAPER AND PHOTOGRAPHER; NO SALES

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The fire started in the vicinity of an ice cream shop and burned several blocks of boardwalk and businesses in a town that was still rebuilding from damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.

SEASIDE PARK, N.J. — A last-ditch effort to halt the spread of a massive Jersey shore boardwalk fire seems to be working after a stretch of the newly rebuilt walkway was ripped out as a makeshift fire break.

Public works crews in Seaside Heights took out a 25-foot section of boardwalk and filled the breach with towering sand dunes this evening. They aimed halt the northward march of flames from a wind-whipped fire that destroyed dozens of businesses.

Seaside Park Mayor Robert Matthies says the fire break appears to have prevented the blaze from spreading for two hours. The walkway was only recently rebuilt from Superstorm Sandy.

The fire is still out of control but flames appear to have lessened a bit as 400 firefighters battle it.

No serious injuries have been reported.