A raging fire Saturday morning caused extensive damage to a home on West Avenue in Ocean City and briefly trapped a firefighter on the second-floor deck before he was rescued, authorities said.
The Ocean City Fire Department responded to the scene at 1600-1602 West Ave. and found “a large volume of fire” in the rear of the property, according to a news release.
Initial 911 calls indicated that two people may have been trapped in the house, but all occupants were able to safely escape the fire. One occupant was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation, authorities said.
“Rescue and fire suppression operations were initiated by fire department crews immediately upon arrival. The incident was also immediately upgraded to a second alarm, resulting in a full Ocean City Fire Department recall and the additional dispatch of mutual aid fire and emergency medical services companies,” the release stated.
One firefighter was briefly trapped on a second-floor deck after the valve of a propane tank failed, resulting in a drastic increase in the volume of fire. The firefighter was rescued and not injured due to the quick actions of Ocean City Fire Department crews on scene, according to the release.
A total of five of residents were displaced due to the fire. The Red Cross and Ocean City Office of Emergency Management are assisting with immediate sheltering needs of the displaced residents.
Reports on social media said that the fire occurred at an Oxford House facility, a self-supported recovery house for recovering alcoholics and drug abusers. The same address is listed as an Oxford House location on the organization’s website.
The fire was placed under control at 9:14 a.m. The cause is under investigation by the Ocean City Fire Department, Ocean City Police Department and Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office.
