Ocean City Fire Department navigating issues in new space

OCEAN CITY, Md. – With any new thing comes challenges and that’s certainly the case with the Ocean City Fire Department’s new Midtown Fire Station 3.

The Ocean City Fire Department put out a post on social media detailing some of the problems they’re dealing with. Among those, electrical and heating issues.

“With any new building we can expect there are going to be problems that need to be resolved, the main issue that we have is the failure of follow up and accountability,” said Ryan Whittington, President of the OC Firefighters Union. “Trip hazards should never take 100 plus days to repair.”

The Ocean City Fire Department is dealing with electrical chords posing as trip hazards and heat that is working intermittently.

Whittington said he would like to see faster response from management in addressing these issues.

“The real issue isn’t that these problems exist, the issue is about the failure that when they are reported, there is no follow up, no real solutions and that’s simply what we want,” he said.

The Ocean City Fire Department moved into the new station late last year.

The new space was touted for its quality of life upgrades, as well its technical advancements.

But with these new challenges, Whittington said morale has been affected.

“Morale is affected anytime our members have to specifically ask for heat when management knows that it is out and their response is we didn’t know there was a request made for heat. So you kind of feel like we’re here, we’re here to do our job, we’re willing to go out and risk our lives, but if we forget to ask for heat it’s something they are not going to provide for us,” said Whittington.

Whittington said the second floor of the station went without heat for several days.

He said hopefully, getting the word out will lead to real answers.

We reached out to the mayor’s office to hear their take on the challenges. They did not respond.

Whittington meanwhile believes management now knows that the department will no longer tolerate any “mediocrity” when it comes to taking care of the men and women that serve and protect the community.

Whittington said a number of people have stopped by the station since that social media post was made. They reportedly offered ideas for solutions.