On January 13, 2026, a multi-alarm fire tore through a residential high-rise in Atlantic City, forcing residents to evacuate as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. According to local reporting by The Press of Atlantic City, the fire raised immediate concerns about safety conditions inside the building, including the absence of automatic sprinklers.
For families displaced in the middle of winter, the immediate concern is safety and shelter, not legal questions. But once the shock settles, many residents start wondering what happened, whether it could have been prevented, and what rights they may have under New Jersey law.
This fire happened close to home. The Law Offices of Eric A. Shore has an Atlantic City office at 300 Atlantic Ave, Unit 102A, just minutes from where crews were responding. Many of the residents affected are our neighbors.
Do Injured Residents Have Legal Rights After a Fire in Atlantic City?
Yes, in many situations they do.
Under New Jersey law, property owners, landlords, and management companies have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for residents. That duty does not disappear just because a building is older or because the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
In our personal injury department, which focuses heavily on premises liability, we often see that fire injury cases are not really about how the fire started. They are about what failed once it did.
What Issues Matter Most in Fire-Related Premises Liability Cases?
Every building and every fire is different, but investigations often focus on questions like these:
- Were fire alarms working properly and loud enough to alert residents?
- Did emergency lighting and exit signage function during the evacuation?
- Were stairwells safe and usable, or did they fill with smoke?
- Did fire doors close as designed, or were they missing or propped open?
- Were exits blocked, locked, or poorly maintained?
- Were there prior complaints or code violations that went unaddressed?
Even when sprinklers are not required by code, owners and managers are still responsible for maintaining the safety systems that are required.
What About the Lack of Sprinklers in Older Buildings?
Many older high-rise buildings in Atlantic City were constructed before modern sprinkler requirements existed. In those cases, the absence of sprinklers alone does not automatically mean a landlord was negligent.
That is only part of the analysis.
The real legal questions usually are:
- What safety systems were required for this building?
- Were those systems properly maintained?
- Did management know about risks and fail to act?
- Did residents reasonably rely on protections that did not work when needed?
Those answers do not come from headlines. They come from investigation.
Why It Matters to Speak With a Lawyer Early
After a fire, evidence does not sit still. Repairs are made. Records change. Memories fade.
If you were injured, displaced, or exposed to smoke, it is important to protect your rights early by preserving:
- Medical documentation, including delayed symptoms
- Photos or videos of conditions inside the building
- Communications from landlords or management companies
- Lease provisions related to habitability and safety
- Information about prior complaints or inspections
Negligence is not always obvious on day one. That is our job to sort out.
What Should You Do If You Were Affected by the January 13 Fire?
If you or someone in your household was impacted:
- Get medical care and document all symptoms
- Write down what you experienced during the evacuation
- Save notices, emails, or texts from building management
- Keep records of property damage and displacement costs
You do not need to know yet whether someone was negligent. You just need to make sure your rights are protected.
Talk to a Lawyer by Phone
The Law Offices of Eric A. Shore focuses on helping people injured because properties were not kept reasonably safe. Our largest department is personal injury, with a strong emphasis on premises liability, including fires, unsafe buildings, and landlord negligence.
This fire did not happen somewhere far away. It happened right here in Atlantic City.
If you were injured or displaced by the January 13, 2026 high-rise fire, you can call 1-800-CANT-WORK to speak with a lawyer. Consultations are free, and there is no fee unless compensation is recovered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue my landlord after a fire in Atlantic City?
Possibly. If a landlord or management company failed to maintain required safety systems or ignored known hazards, a premises liability claim may exist under New Jersey law.
Is a landlord required to have sprinklers in an older building?
Not always. Many older buildings were built before sprinkler requirements. However, landlords are still responsible for maintaining other required safety systems and providing safe means of escape.
What if I was injured but the fire was an accident?
A fire can be accidental and still lead to liability. The focus is often on whether safety systems worked and whether the building was reasonably safe for residents.
What should I do first after a residential fire in New Jersey?
Seek medical care, document what happened, preserve communications and records, and speak with a premises liability lawyer before evidence disappears.
