Originally published on September 18, 2013

The fire that destroyed part of a new Jersey boardwalk along with several businesses was started by electrical wiring damaged in Superstorm Sandy, officials said.

The fire, which destroyed more than 50 businesses, was started by aged wiring that had been compromised by salt water and sand during the Oct. 29 storm.

"I'm sure on every boardwalk everywhere [at the Jersey shore], there may be compromised wiring," Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato told local media. "We don't want to start a panic mode. We just want to be reasonable. If you're a property owner and you think your electrical work came in contact with water and sand, we strongly recommend you have it inspected."

Investigators said that the wiring in question was located beneath a custard stand and was dated from the 1970s. With the storm pushing those wires in different positions, they said that two wires somehow came into contact with one another and started an electrical arc that set the boardwalk ablaze.

Prosecutors have ruled out all other possible causes, including careless smoking and foul play.

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