Early morning restaurant fire in OC deemed accidental

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Fire officials say an Ocean City restaurant was saved from serious fire damage due to their fire sprinkler system.

The Ocean City Fire Department responded to the call shortly after 4 a.m., at the Castle in the Sand Hotel. While emergency officials were en route, an additional call came in from hotel staff saying that they could see fire burning in the hotel basement.

On arrival, firefighters found a single fire sprinkler had discharged and extinguished the fire, resulting in limited damage to a small area in the back of the restaurant. Hotel occupants were able to return to their rooms within 30 minutes of the call, and the Beach House Restaurant is planning to return to normal business following a brief cleanup.

Officials say the fire has been ruled accidental and related to spontaneous ignition of laundered, cooking oil-soaked cleaning rags.