WILDWOOD — About 142 residents of the 10-story Sandman Tower, 3700 New Jersey Avenue, were displaced from their units at 11:51 p.m. July 4 when a small fire broke out in a ninth-floor apartment.
Five were given temporary shelter by the Cape May County Chapter of the American Red Cross as a result of water and smoke damage.
Police and fire were notified by an activated fire alarm in the apartment.
Members of Wildwood and North Wildwood fire departments along with police officers arrived and went to the scene.
Responding firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which caused minimal damage to the structure, according to police.
The unit sustained extensive smoke and water damage due to the building’s sprinkler system activating.
An elderly female resident of the unit was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center, Court House by Wildwood Fire Rescue. She was treated for smoke inhalation and released.
During the incident, all residents were relocated to the Wildwood Housing Authority Community Center on the ground floor adjacent to the apartment.
After several hours, almost all residents were able to return to their apartments.
Also assisting in the incident were members of Rio Grande Rescue Squad, Stone Harbor Fire Company, Medic 9 and Cape May County Fire Police.
The fire is under investigation by members of Wildwood Police and Fire departments, and the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office.
