Ocean City Station 4

Photo from ocvfc.com

Photo by Rusty

On or about September 24, 2013, OCFD vacated its original Station 4 opened 1974 at 12925 Coastal Hwy at 130th Street. Engine 7-4 and Paramedic 7-4 moved to several bays (one open and at left in middle photo) of the nearby Parks Dept Garage at 12801 Jamaica Ave. This is about 500 yards away at the end of a cul-de-sac behind Montego Bay Shopping Center next to Northside Park. Station 4 was demolished to make room for a larger new two-story, three-bay, 11,500 square foot firehouse to be completed before the start of next season. Reportedly the next project to follow this one will be a replacement for Station 3 possibly in front of the public safety building at 65th Street.

Photo from oceancity.com

OCFD Fire Boat & More

The Ocean City FD has finally put their Fire Boat in the Water. This 32' vessel was built by Moore Boats of Bishopville, MD. The unique hull design allows for shallow draft and greater stability and handling.

It has a 700-horsepower diesel power plant and 1200-gpm fire pump. It is kept on a lift at the end of 13th Street west of St Louis Avenue near the 15th Street Firehouse in Ocean City. Keep in mind the adjacent condos (and boats) are private property.

 

To learn more on Moore Boats go to Moore Boats website.

If in Ocean City you may see this along Coastal Highway out front of the Gold Coast Mall. Holding up a banner (thumping a beer sale, happy hour or the like) is this old engine is lettered (barely visible) for the Hacks Point VFCo of Cecil County. 

Based on my records this is a 1960, International "R-185", Seagrave 750-gpm with 750-gallon water tank. As I have, it ran as Engine 1 later Engine 911 and was retired before 1998.

All photos by Rusty.

OCEAN CITY RENUMBERING

For those out there waiting for this shoe to drop...finally as many have speculated, the Ocean City FD has re-numbered its apparatus. As expected the OCFD now uses a station specific format but with a minor twist. All units now identify on the radio using a "7" prefix with extra sequential number suffixes for 2nd or 3rd out. This differs slightly from the "700" company designation of pre 800 radio system days. A run down of changes follows. The Lower Shore Apparatus Roster available on the storefront has also been updated accordingly.

Engine 1 (old) '01 Saber @ 5 is now Engine 7-5
Engine 1 (new) '11 KME @ HQ is Engine 7-1
Engine 2 (old) '85 Arrow @ HQ a reserve is now Engine 7-1-2
Engine 2 (new) '11 KME @ 2 is Engine 7-2
Engine 3 '05 Dash @ HQ is Engine 7-1-1
Engine 4 '09 KME @ 4 is Engine 7-4
Tower 5 '01 Hurricane @ HQ is Tower 7-1
Tower 6 '97 Hurricane @ 3 is Tower 7-3
Rescue 7 '98 Freightliner '82 Saulsbury @ HQ is Rescue 7-1
Engine 8 '53 Ford, American parade piece @ 4 remains
Engine 9 sold to collector
Snorkel 11 '83 Arrow '66 Pitman @ 5 is Snorkel 7-5
Engine 12 '09 KME @ 3 is Engine 7-3

Brush 15 '86 Chevy @ HQ is Brush 7-1
Rescue 18 @ 5 is Rescue 7-5
Tanker 19 @ 5 is Tanker 7-5
Tanker 20 @ 5 is Tanker 7-5-1
Sp Hazards 23 @ HQ (was at 5) is Sp Hazards 7-1

The Medics use as before the station number w/ "7" prefix and yes Medic 1-1 is now Medic 7-1-1. The utility trucks are thus far the same with "7" prefix (710, 714, 780 etc) as are the chiefs (750, 751 etc). All the KME engines have new number plates (without the 7) on their front bumpers however no other re-lettering has as yet been seen. And yes just as with various localities under the COG fog of the Washington DC Metro, an OC box now brings a lot of "sevens" over the radio. In other news the City Council also just approved an expansion of Station 4 at 130th Street plus roof and facade upgrade to HQ on 15th Street.