Witness recalls Ocean City condominium fire

Clouds of black smoke filled the air as a burning condominium along the beach in Ocean City was nearly destroyed Wednesday morning.

Crews got to the Pelican Beach condominiums on 140th Street around 11 a.m. and noticed fire coming from the first floor parking garage and second floor residential units. They also heard explosions coming from a work truck and generator that were on that first floor parking garage.

Three maintenance workers on the roof were able to make it out safely. No one else was in the building. Crews were able to get the fire under control within an hour of getting there and witnesses say they could see the smoke from miles away.

David Jones says he could see it while he was driving from Rehoboth Beach. He continues, “Coming in to Bethany we could see the smoke. It would start small and then get larger and larger and it was so black and bellowing I said something is really going on.” He also went on to say, “It was nuts. I mean it was frantic.”

Officials say right now the building cannot be occupied and the investigation into the cause is still ongoing.