Alertpage shared a link via Maryland Fire News.
Ocean City,MD **2nd Alarm** Fatal Fire at a Church near the Boardwalk - 3rd @ Baltimore - 2 DOA Found on Search- 3rd Critical being Transported. - Clip via @muscle75
Maryland Fire News shared a link.
2nd Alarm Fatal Fire going on in Ocean City right now. Original dispatch was around 0925hrs. It's at the intersection of 3rd and Baltimore.
UPDATE: Editor Steve Green here, Lots of inquiries as to the exact location of this morning's fire at the St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church rectory on Baltimore Ave. near 3rd Street. What we can confirm is the fire is believed to have destroyed the Shepherd's Crook, which is a volunteer-run food pantry and clothing store that caters to the homeless and others in need. Volunteers were reportedly preparing for today's 10 a.m.-noon opening when the fire broke out. The "Crook", as it is known, is located on the ground floor of the parish house, which suffered extensive damage throughout. We will report news as we confirm and are awaiting official word on the victims' conditions. Again, at least one person is dead and two others are in grave condition.
UPDATE: A media briefing was just held at the site of this morning's fire. Short on details, but more on official confirmation. One person is dead and that was confirmed by Ocean City Communications Manager Jessica Waters. Two more people were injured with one being taken to Hopkins in Baltimore and in grave condition. Another was taken to a local hospital for injuries sustained. All damage was contained to the rectory and no damage was reported to the church, which opened to the public in 1900. As for the rectory, the church's website states, "The original church rectory was built on Third Street in 1913, but was razed to the ground in 1973 to provide the site for the parish hall named in honor of Rev. William Dewees. A new rectory on Baltimore Avenue was completed in 1923 and now houses the parish’s offices." As reported earlier, the fire is believed to have originated in the Shepherd's Crook, a food pantry and clothing store that helps the homeless and others in need.
OC Fire Investigation Update
BREAKING NEWS: Editor Steve Green has learned from multiple sources that an unnamed individual was seen entering the rectory of the St. Paul’s By The Sea Episcopal Church this morning prior to the fire breaking out. Although the information is preliminary, reports are the individual was the source of the fire that damaged the rectory, located on Baltimore Avenue near 3rd Street.
The individual, who is believed to be a local and died in the blaze, reportedly entered the rectory with an unspecified amount of gasoline on his person. What happened next is unclear and under investigation, but the fire is believed to have been started by this person in one way or another. Whether it was intentional or accidental is unknown at this time, and police are investigating the matter currently and interviewing people with knowledge of the situation.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6610.
UPDATE: The Episcopal Diocese of Easton has confirmed that St. Paul's Episcopal Church Rector David Dingwall is now in stable condition and has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit. Dingwall was injured in the fire at the church rectory this morning.
OC Fire Investigation Update
BREAKING NEWS: Editor Steve Green has learned from multiple sources that an unnamed individual was seen entering the rectory of the St. Paul’s By The Sea Episcopal Church this morning prior to the fire breaking out. Although the information is preliminary, reports are the individual was the source of the fire that damaged the rectory, located on Baltimore Avenue near 3rd Street.
The individual, who is believed to be a local and died in the blaze, reportedly entered the rectory with an unspecified amount of gasoline on his person. What happened next is unclear and under investigation, but the fire is believed to have been started by this person in one way or another. Whether it was intentional or accidental is unknown at this time, and police are investigating the matter currently and interviewing people with knowledge of the situation.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6610.
UPDATE: The Episcopal Diocese of Easton has confirmed that St. Paul's Episcopal Church Rector David Dingwall is now in stable condition and has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit. Dingwall was injured in the fire at the church rectory this morning.
UPDATE: St. Paul's Rector Has Passed Away From Fire Injuries
The Episcopal Diocese of Easton is reporting, "It is with great sadness that we share with you that our brother in Christ, the Rev. David Dingwall, has died. Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon him."
The Episcopal Diocese of Easton is reporting, "It is with great sadness that we share with you that our brother in Christ, the Rev. David Dingwall, has died. Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon him."
"This was posted in the days before the fire...
ReplyDeletePosted on November 11, 2013 by FatherDavid
Pentecost 25 Sermon
SPBTS
Sometime last weekend there was a fire here at the church. From what we have learned from the police and the Fire Marshall’s office it seems that someone set a fire in a plastic bucket… most likely in an attempt to keep warm on a cold November night. Unfortunately, they placed the bucket on the porch outside the office door and it burned a fairly large hole in the deck. The hole is less than a foot from the wooden wall of the old rectory…and we are extremely lucky that the entire building: offices, church and potentially even Dewees Hall, weren’t completely destroyed by fire...."
Someone lights a fire in a PLASTIC bucket in an attempt to keep warm? Someone had it out for St Paul's.
It is now being reported by the Episcopal Diocese of Easton that Rev David Dingwall has died of his injuries sustained in today's fire.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when you encourage homeless to hang around in your neighborhoods. Most are not right in their heads to start with.
ReplyDeleteWBOC is still reporting he is in stable condition. Don't they have top news reporters?
ReplyDeleteThe homeless need to be loaded onto buses and transported to DC, let Obama deal with them! It would help clean up Delmarva, we certainly don't want them here, and just look at what these crazy people did today!
ReplyDelete@11:21, I hope you don't go around in the world claiming to be a Christian, because Jesus would never want us to do what you are suggesting. (and neither would Rev. Dingwall)
ReplyDeleteThe thing is when you encourage these types of people into neighborhoods you are putting others in danger of becoming victims. I believe churches and other organizations who do this sort of work have not only an ethical but a moral duty to think of community first. Not saying it happens at this church but a friend lives near a homeless shelter in another state. They aren't allowed in if they've been drinking so they are wandering around the neighborhood, stealing bikes and whatnot and also using other people's yards as a restroom.
ReplyDelete11:21
ReplyDeleteAnd all guns should be taken away from people. Forks should be banned for making people fat. Alcohol should also be banned so no one can drink and drive.
So what do you recomment, 9:27? Fill our already overcrowded prisons with them? We'd have to check on the constitutionality of that one. How about some concentration camps?
ReplyDelete"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
ReplyDelete- Matthew 25:40