BERLIN – In spite of concerns raised following the Labor Day weekend boat explosion in Ocean Pines, fire department officials say the community has adequate fire protection.
Although a neighbor expressed dissatisfaction with the fire department’s response time and procedures following the Aug. 31 boat explosion, Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (OPVFD) Chief Richard Angelo said this week residents have nothing to be worried about.
“When you’re in a situation like that, it feels like a lifetime when you’re waiting for somebody,” Angelo said. “I understand the concern, but we’re here to protect and serve the community.”
Resident Margaret Yates approached the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors with her concerns last week. Yates said the boat exploded as her neighbor, Neil Edwards, started it in the canal behind Boatswain Drive. Five people were ejected from the boat and taken to the hospital.
Yates told the board that although the fire company’s rescue squad arrived quickly, the fire engine took 15 minutes to arrive.
“This was a frightening event,” she said. “There were black plumes [of smoke] shooting up.”
Yates said the fire wasn’t extinguished until 25 minutes after the first call to 911.
“It was such a poor response,” she said.
Angelo was not one of the responders on the day of the explosion but investigated the incident after speaking to Yates and said he found the OPVFD response acceptable. He said the victims were the priority in that situation, as the boat was in the water and the fire wasn’t in immediate danger of spreading.
“The response time was reasonable,” he said, adding that the scene had been chaotic. “Everybody was panicking.”
Yates said she had been told by fire department officials that whenever there was a fire in Ocean Pines, the fire engine responded from the South Gate station, even though there was a brand new station in the north end of the community near White Horse Park.
“We’re living under this false sense of security,” she said.
Angelo denied that fire engines only responded from the South Gate station.
“Engines come out of the north and south,” he said.
He said the station near White Horse Park was also fully staffed with EMTs and paramedics Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After that, emergency response is handled by the South Gate station.
“The South is the center point of Ocean Pines,” he said. “You can get anywhere pretty quick.”
Angelo stressed that aside from 11 paid employees, the OPVFD was staffed by volunteers who were often at home or at work when they received a fire call.
“It’s volunteer,” he said. “It’s a hefty bill if you want to have a paid fire department.”
Bob Thompson, general manager of the Ocean Pines Association, said he was pleased with the level of fire protection the OPVFD provided the community.
“I believe the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department does a fantastic job in keeping our community safe,” Thompson said. “Anytime you deal with volunteer staffing it means the department doesn’t have people on site when the call comes in. There is some time that passes but between the north and south stations they do a good job. We’re fortunate to have them.”