Ocean City Fire Department holds rededication ceremony to honor fallen chief

Ocean City, Md- The Ocean City Fire Department held a special rededication ceremony to honor one of their fallen on Tuesday.

The Department rededicated Engine 701 to honor the memory of former Chief Ralph Dennis.

Chief Dennis served as the volunteer fire department’s first Assistant Chief back in 1905, an was sadly the first firefighter in the department to lose his life in the line of duty.

We spoke to Chief Richard Bowers of the Ocean City Fire Department who spoke about the legacy left by their former chief: “Chief Dennis was a pioneer. He was also a visionary for this volunteer fire company here in Ocean City.”

He went out to speak about the importance of the rededication: “What this is about is making sure that we never forget not only the individual who gave their life. But also the family.”

Chief Ralph Dennis lost his life after succumbing to injuries sustained as a result of inhaling chemicals used to control a chimney fire at the George Washington Hotel in 1937