John Russo
ATLANTIC CITY — Firefighters were battling a blaze Friday evening at the old New Jersey Avenue School, which was set to be demolished, a city spokesperson confirmed.
Videos on Facebook showed heavy black smoke billowing from the building and visible flames in the second and third floors. The smoke could be seen from as far away as Somers Point as well as cities across the bay. Others said the fire was on the second floor and that the roof had collapsed.
The New Jersey Avenue School, which was built in 1925, closed in 2012 when the Pennsylvania Avenue School opened.
The building sustained damage from flooding during Superstorm Sandy and was deemed unusable, school officials said last month when they announced plans to demolish the school and build a new administration