Authorities now say a 67-year-old man was killed Thursday night after a fire broke out while he was sleeping underneath Central Pier. According to the Press of Atlantic City, emergency personnel arrived at the pier between Tennessee Avenue and St. James Place shortly after 7 p.m. and located the body of Bruce Elder in a homeless encampment. Investigators said a small campfire was set near the victim and although the fire was intentional, it doesn’t appear to be criminal in nature.
The fire then spread upward and damaged the boardwalk and the Central Pier arcade above.