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Bruce Eder, 67, who last lived in Atlantic City, was killed in the fire, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. The fire started near 1400 Boardwalk and South Tennessee Avenue at around 7 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 18.
Investigators said the fire appears to have started under the boardwalk near a "small homeless encampment." The fire spread upward, damaging the boardwalk and Central Pier Arcade.
Eder appeared to be sleeping at the time of the fire. An autopsy will determine his official cause of death.
Heather Deegan Hires provided photos to the Daily Voice showing large flumes of black smoke over the pier and beachfront.
"It's very cold out there tonight," she said in a Facebook post. "This is at the end of my street. I hope everyone is ok!! I feel bad for the business owners, again. And I always feel bad for the homeless & mental health issues around."
A small campfire was set near Eder. The cause of the fire appeared to be "an open flame to available combustibles."
The fire was intentionally set but does not seem to be criminal, prosecutors said.
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