Atlantic City Firefighters Blamed for $1.5M in Damages to Ocean Casino

Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino is preparing to sue local authorities, alleging the city’s Fire Department failed to respond properly to a small fire that eventually caused significant damage to the property. The incident also temporarily halted casino operations, leading to the cancellation of a slot tournament and allegedly costing Ocean Casino substantial sums in missed profits, cancellations, and repair expenses. The Casino Suffered Water Damage According to a recent Press of Atlantic City report, the incident began on the morning of July 27 when heavy smoke caused Ocean Casino staff to call the Fire Department. Officers arriving on the scene found a small fire in the venue’s linen room. Although it started small, the blaze reportedly produced burning debris, necessitating intervention. Reports indicate that the firefighters’ response may have been overly enthusiastic. As they attempted to extinguish the fire, they unleashed a substantial amount of water into the building, which may have caused more damage than the original incident. The water reportedly caused part of the hotel lobby ceiling to cave in. Elevator shafts and staff hallways were also affected. Ocean Casino also alleges that firefighters caused a burst pipe. Hotel guests reported that all the lobby rugs were soaked and that water was present in front of the elevators. According to the hotel, the flooding even reached the casino floor, shutting it down. These inconveniences led some guests to leave early, adding to the venue’s troubles. Casino Operations Were Also Disrupted The venue reportedly suffered more than just material damages. While the hotel remained open, Ocean Casino claims it missed significant profits because of the incident. The property was forced to cancel its $30,000 Slot Tournament, suffered a wave of cancellations, and had to pay compensation to affected customers. While the casino floor reopened as quickly as possible, the disruption was felt. Ocean Casino now plans to sue Atlantic City for $1.5 million in damages. Some of the property’s extra expenses following the incident include architectural and engineering fees, repairing the lobby ceiling, installing new carpets and tiling, restoring damaged gambling equipment, and replacing LED panels. Ocean Casino also claims that the casino floor shutdown cost it at least $1 million in missed revenue. The Atlantic City Fire Department now faces allegations of gross negligence and wanton damage to Ocean Casino. As the brewing legal fight unfolds, the venue has resumed normal operations, even as repairs continue. However, dissatisfied customers affected by the accident could blemish Ocean Casino’s reputation.