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Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Faulty Circuit Identified As Waterman’s Fire Cause

The commercial fire at the Waterman’s Seafood Company, leading to the evacuation of the crowded restaurant and closing a vast section of Route 50 in both directions for several hours on Friday, originated in a second-floor attic area and was caused by a faulty electrical circuit, the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office announced on Tuesday.

The fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. on Friday and first-arriving units from the Ocean City Fire Company reported fire extending from the roof area of the two-and-half story landmark restaurant on Route 50 in West Ocean City. The restaurant was open and crowded at the height of the dinner rush on a busy Friday evening, but the evacuation was orderly, if not all that fast, according to a source at the scene, but employees and guests got out and no one was injured.

In the aftermath, the restaurant’s tables were still covered with drinks and food left behind by the evacuated guests including piles of steamed crabs. One of the restaurant’s owners was reportedly in the facility at the time enjoying steamed crabs with friends.


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3 comments:

Anonymous said...


Wink! Wink!

Anonymous said...

Funny how the County's Fire Marshal's office can detirmine a cause in a few days, but in Ocean City the same takes forever, or is "undetirmined". Ray Charles could figure out Bradley on the Bay, but not that bunch. Very frustrating. Guess they do better at liquor inspections and fire works displays.

Anonymous said...

8:16 I heard that just before the fire broke out the electric had been flickering on and off at the restaurant then a boom. Maybe these were clues that were able to help them pinpoint a cause rather quickly?