OCEAN PINES VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC.

Mission Statement The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department strives to achieve and maintain the highest level of professionalism and efficiency in providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, fire prevention, public education and emergency preparedness for the Ocean Pines community. History Back in April of 1973, a group of retired citizens living in the Ocean Pines community joined together to form the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department using an old white fire engine, used for wetting down dirt roads in new developments. During their first year as a fire department, they responded to a total of 12 calls for service. Financial support during the initial phase of the fire department was very poor and the department operated on a very tight budget, using rain coats and fishing boots for gear. The vast majority of the fire department membership consisted of retirees such as chemical engineers, electrical engineers and government bureaucrats, along with a few construction workers, realtors and teachers. In 1977, the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department joined the Worcester County 911 system, and covered a total of 851 homes. Six years later, the department joined the Worcester County Volunteer Fireman's Association and covered approximately 3,090 homes. In 1985, the department operated three pumpers and a rescue truck. Today, the department operates 2 Class A pumpers, a Heavy Rescue engine, a 104' tower ladder, a rescue boat, a special operations unit, a utility vehicle, 3 command vehicles and 3 state of the art ALS equipped ambulances. The department currently has approximately 50 members that respond to calls for fire, rescue or EMS needs. The department supplements volunteer response with 15 employees consisting of 12 full time Firefighter/ Paramedics, 1 part time Firefighter/ EMT-B, 1 full time Administrative Assistant and a full time Career EMS Captain.