Man dies in fire under Atlantic City pier near homeless encampment

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A man died in a fire under an Atlantic City pier near a homeless encampment, authorities said.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday that Bruce Eder, 67, died in a fire that began Thursday evening under the Central Pier at the boardwalk and Tennessee Avenue.

Fire Chief Scott Evans said Eder was believed to be homeless, and the prosecutor’s office said he appeared to be sleeping when the fire broke out. An autopsy was to be performed to determine his cause of death.

“This was an unfortunate tragedy,” Evans said. “We have dealings with encampments under the pier and boardwalk almost on a daily basis. This is an area known to be used by the homeless.”

The prosecutor’s office said “a small homeless encampment was observed in the area of the fire,’' adding a small campfire had been set near where Eder’s body was found.