Ocean City Fire Department Responds to Two Residential Fires within Four Minutes

(June 27, 2014) – It wasn’t an average Thursday evening in Ocean City yesterday, as the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) was on the scene of two significant residential fires in Worcester County, occurring at the same time. With the calls for service coming in to the Ocean City Commination’s Division only four minutes apart, the OCFD quickly responded to the areas of Riverview Drive and Old Bridge Road shortly after 7 p.m. on the evening of June 26.

The first call, recorded at 7:20 p.m, requested the assistance of the OCFD’s Fire Boat 1. Responding to assist the Showell Fire Department, Fire Boat 1 arrived to the 11000 block of Riverview Drive and crew members immediately engaged in water supply operations. In addition, in support of fire suppression operations, Fire Boat 1 supported efforts by placing its roof-mounted master stream in service.

Only a few minutes later, approximately 7:24 p.m., another call came into Communications for a house fire in the 12000 block of Old Bridge Road in West Ocean City. Multiple alarms were called and units from Worcester and Wicomico County, as well as units from Delaware responded to the area. “The response from all of the fire departments from the county, as well as our neighboring counties, was extraordinary,” commented Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Larmore. “It was a true demonstration of team work and I am extremely proud of the efforts of Ocean City’s first responders and those of our allied agencies.”

By 11 p.m. last night, OCFD units had cleared the area of both incidents. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fires is now under investigation by the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office. “I want to personally thank all of our first responders,” commented Assistant Chief David Cropper, who was the Incident Commander on scene of the fire at Old Bridge Road. “It’s very unusual for us to have multiple residential fires at the same time, requiring such significant resources. Our members were professional and did exactly as they are trained to do. They should be tremendously proud of their hard work because I am certainly proud of them.”