Ocean City Fire Department

Today Fire Chief Josh Bunting had the honor of swearing in Ocean City Elementary School
student Tommy Peters as “Fire Chief for the Day.”

Chief Tommy got right to work by signing two Executive Orders: Any firefighter who knows their family meeting place gets to enjoy donuts — a fun reminder of how important it is for every family to have a meeting place and to check their smoke alarms regularly.

All firefighters get to wear cool sunglasses for the day. Chief Tommy’s big day also included a tour of Fire Headquarters and a special ride to school with his friends, where they arrived to the excited welcome of all their classmates.

It was such a great day, and we’re proud to help share important fire safety messages in a fun and memorable way. Thank you, Chief Tommy for the 🍩 and 🕶️ !

A few snapshots from a great day of teamwork and preparedness from our rescue swimmers & fire boat 2 crew.

✈️ 𝐀 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

Following Sunday's response to an amphibious aircraft landing in the bay near Seacrets, members of the Ocean City Fire Department had the opportunity to speak with the pilot and learn more about both the aircraft and the events that occurred.

The pilot shared that Seacrets was his planned destination and that the aircraft made a normal landing on the water. There was no emergency, no structural damage to the aircraft, and the aircraft was never submerged. As designed, this type of amphibious aircraft sits relatively low in the water.

After landing, a small component associated with the aircraft's float support system released while transitioning from higher-speed water taxi operations to slower-speed maneuvering. According to the aircraft manufacturer, this component is designed as a safety feature to protect the airframe from excessive lateral forces encountered during water operations and can be safely replaced in the field.

With assistance from Seacrets dock personnel, the pilot completed the manufacturer-authorized repair while on the water. During that time, first responders arrived, assessed the situation, communicated with the pilot, and remained available to assist if needed.

The pilot, who has more than 30 years of aviation experience and thousands of flight hours, expressed his sincere appreciation for the assistance provided by Seacrets staff and responding agencies. He also shared his admiration for the professionalism, coordination, and readiness demonstrated by Ocean City's first responders.

We appreciate the opportunity to learn more about this unique aircraft and are always grateful for opportunities to strengthen our understanding of the diverse situations we may encounter while serving our community.

Looking for something fun and educational to do today? Stop by the United States Coast Guard Station in Ocean City and visit our friends from the Maryland State Police Aviation Command during their Open House!

This is a great opportunity to get an up-close look at one of their helicopter, meet the flight crew, and learn about the lifesaving missions they perform throughout Maryland.

While you’re there, take time to meet the men and women of the United States Coast Guard, tour the station, and learn about the vital services they provide to our community and visitors every day.

From search and rescue operations to boating safety and maritime security, their work plays a critical role in keeping our waterways safe.

Today, Ocean City Elementary School’s fourth graders celebrated their final days at OCES before heading off to a new chapter! Many of these students have been part of our fire prevention programs since kindergarten, and it’s been incredible watching them grow over the years.

When our Community Engagement Officer stopped by the celebration and asked what they remembered most from our visits, the answer came quickly: “Check your smoke alarms!”

The students were so proud of their fire safety knowledge that they even asked to write the message on his uniform shirt. We know the Fire Chief will be happy to hear that they remembered one of our most important lessons… 𝒔𝒎𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔!

Congratulations to all of the fourth graders as you move on to your new school. We wish you continued success and hope you’ll always remember the importance of fire safety.

We had a blast at Career Day at Glen Avenue Elementary School!

Our firefighters enjoyed meeting so many great students, sharing what it’s like to serve as a firefighter, paramedic, and bomb technician, and answering lots of awesome questions. We even got to show off some of our gear and equipment!

A big thank you to Glen Avenue Elementary for inviting us to spend the day with your future leaders.

Yesterday, our EMTs and paramedics kicked off weekly training on the new Maryland Medical Protocols that take effect July 1, 2026. After reviewing the latest updates from Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, crews worked through practical hands-on scenarios to apply the new protocols in realistic emergency situations.

A special thank you to Past Deputy Chief and EMS educator Chuck Barton for his continued educational support, as well as our Associate Medical Director, Dr. St. Pierre, for helping deliver this important training.

We were also excited to welcome WBOC TV 16 Delmarva's News Leader, DelmarvaLife during the training as they filmed a segment highlighting the education that helps our team provide exceptional care to residents and visitors.

🚧 Construction Update from the Montego Bay Fire Station!

If you’ve noticed some work happening out front, the station’s front access ramp is being repaired due to settling. A huge thank you to the Town of Ocean City Department of Public Works, Engineering Department, and David A. Bramble Construction for their quick response and teamwork getting this project underway.

The new concrete will need a couple of weeks to properly cure, but don’t worry… our crews remain fully operational. Thanks to the generosity of a neighboring property owner allowing us to utilize their parking lot, emergency vehicles are operating from the rear of the station and maintaining the same level of coverage and service to our community without interruption.