Restaurant Fire Causes Minimal Damage In OC Due To Sprinklers, Quick Actions

OCEAN CITY — Fire system sprinklers and a quick-thinking employee are being credited this week with minimizing damage to a popular uptown restaurant.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Ocean City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported building fire at Liquid Assets restaurant on 94th Street. Firefighter arrived and found the popular single-story restaurant evacuated.

Upon entering the establishment, firefighters discovered one single fire sprinkler actively flowing water near a propane oven. In the kitchen area, firefighters found light smoke conditions and evidence of a fire that had been quelled by the fire sprinkler system with the assistance of an employee using a Class-K fire extinguisher.

“The quick actions of the staff at Liquid Assets and the fire sprinkler system saved lives and property at the restaurant,” said Ocean City Fire Marshal David Hartley. “This is one example of why the Office of the Fire Marshal maintains our Fire Protection Quality Assurance Program to ensure all fire protection systems work as intended during an emergency.”

Thanks to the quick response of the fire sprinklers and the swift actions of employees at Liquid Assets, along with the rapid response from the fire department, the restaurant did not sustain serious damage and re-opened the next day.

The on-scene investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office revealed the fire started as a result of a propane appliance malfunction. The fire has been classified as accidental.

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.