News

At 5:35am on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, the Ocean Pines Vol. Fire Department was alerted to support the Berlin Fire Company for a residential structure fire on Gum Point Road.  Additional responses were requested from Ocean City, Showell, and Newark Fire Departments.

Ocean Pines Engine 1102 was first on scene and advised smoke showing from the eves of a single story park style mobile home. Their crew stretched an 1 3/4 attackline to the front door and began searching for the seat of the fire. When Berlin Engine 605 arrived, a second attack line was extended into the residence; the combined crews were able to locate and extinguish the fire and rescue four guinea pigs. Berlin 1st Assistant Chief, Brian Trimble, had initial command of the incident before transferring command to Berlin Fire Chief, RJ Rhode.

The scene was turned over to the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office for further investigation and the Red Cross responded to support the family that had been displaced.

On this particular scene, the crews were hampered by a door that presented as an accessible entry point from the exterior; however, it was triple deadbolted and blocked from the interior by another door laying horizontally as well as pet cages. Thankfully the residents were able to self extricate from the home; however, blocked exits are always discouraged in residential and commercial structures.