No cause has been determined, although Pittaluga speculated thta either a power surge or a blown transformer was responsible. He said “two big booms” were heard at the property before the fire started.

Firefighters also responded to an alarm at the Ocean Drive, wading through freezing, waist-deep flood waters to reach the popular bar, Pittaluga said. He said many of the fire calls occurred at the time of the morning tidal surge.

Saturday morning’s high tide in the resort came within 6 to 8 inches of what was experienced during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Pittaluga said, reaching as far as the door of the fire hall. If the wind had not shifted Saturday night, the tide — on top of water trapped on the island — would have exceeded that of Sandy, he said.

Sunday morning, most streets in the city remained flooded from water that had not drained.

Contact: 609-463-6719 CNevitt@pressofac.com