According to the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office, the agency worked alongside local fire companies, law enforcement, EMS units and emergency management partners while responding to numerous calls related to fire, hazardous materials and injuries.
Several of those incidents, the agency reports, occurred “during challenging weather conditions and required significant coordination and extended operations.”
The first notable incident occurred Jan. 22, when the fire marshal’s office was contacted by the National Park Service regarding a suspected unexploded military ordnance located on the north beach area of Assateague Island National Seashore.
In conjunction with the bomb technicians from the Ocean City Fire Department Bomb Squad, the responding agencies were able to secure the area and X-ray the device on scene, with results forwarded to U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel at Dover Air Force Base.
The incident represents the latest in a string of ordnance recoveries on Assateague Island, an area historically used for military training. The fire marshal’s office says the frequency of those responses “continues to place significant demand on local, state, and federal resources and underscores the ongoing public safety concern presented by these discoveries.”
“The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office reminds visitors that any suspected military or unfamiliar object should not be touched or disturbed,” a news release from the fire marshal’s office reads. “Individuals are urged to maintain a safe distance and immediately notify park personnel or call 911.”