Modernizations at new OCFD headquarters for the firefighters
OCEAN CITY, Md. – Work on ocean city fire department’s new headquarters making significant progress in construction.
It will be located right in the center of town, on 65th street, with the purpose of this is to split the town in half to improve response times for areas further uptown.
Public Information Officer Ryan Whittington says, “the moments that it takes, the seconds that it takes for us to respond belong to our patients or our victims.”
Efficiency and Safety are the two focuses for the brand new Ocean City fire department headquarters.
Additions include expanded dormitories, and a more efficient structure layout, all in the effort of making response times quicker.
“This station is much larger,” PIO Whittington said. “The apparatus bays are much larger, which allows for our fire fighters to safely navigate between the apparatus.”
OC Fire Chief Richard Bowers says the equipment at the station will be top of the line to last the department at least another fifty years.
“This is going to have all the bells and whistles that is needed for today’s environment, as well as the future environment.”
Chief Bowers says the biggest expansion is the decontamination area on the first floor.
That will be a three part system with the purpose of washing away any toxic materials that fire fighters come in contact with.
“Cancer runs through the fire service very ramp-idly these days because of the various exposures men and women go through.”
Station four has a decontamination chamber, but this new one will be fully equipped, and will keep the first responders healthier and safer.
“If we can prevent one firefighter from obtaining cancer, then the building itself will pay for itself immensely.”
The Chief tells me that the construction for this new station won’t be finished until the summer of 2024 where they will be moving in the fall.
Fire department leaders say any members of the community are always welcome to visit, and they would love to talk to them about what firefighters do on a daily basis.
The department is also hosting an online sale, where donors can buy personalized bricks for the new headquarters at https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/fire/buy-a-brick/ .
