OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Fire Department responded to a duplex fire at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at 5840 Central Avenue.
According to Fire Chief Jim Smith, the first floor of the duplex was unoccupied, but the second floor unit had tenants who smelled something burning and called 911.
“Upon arrival, one of our members made entry into the first floor. They found a smoke condition. There was something burning. They were able to track it down into a utility room,” Smith said. “They found something burning in a utility room and were able to extinguish it.”
Four of Ocean City ‘s fire companies responded, including Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine3, Ladder Truck, Truck 1 and both ambulances.
Marmora Fire Department and Margate City Fire Department provided mutual aid.
Smith said the blaze was under control within 20 minutes, but some firefighters remained on the scene for three hours with the investigation.
“We always leave a company behind so the investigators aren’t on the scene by themselves,” Smith said.
The Ocean City Fire Department is conducting the investigation.
“Fortunately the people were there upstairs or it could have been a lot worse,” Smith said. “It (the fire) would have really consumed that first floor if not both floors.”