Huge Crowd Answers the Call at Ocean City Fire Department

More than 800 people visited the Ocean City Fire Department on Thursday evening for the department's Open House.

The annual event coincides with national Fire Prevention Month and gives the community a chance to learn more about how the department works.

Many of the activities at the Open House were geared toward teaching children how to act and react in a fire situation. From learning to "get low and go" in a smoke-filled home (a trailer mocked up as a house) to using a fire extinguisher to douse flames, Ocean City youth got a chance to learn by doing.

About 40 off-duty firefighters from Ocean City Firefighters FMBA Local 27 volunteered their time to help produce the event.

Johnson's Popcorn donated tubs of caramel corn to be distributed to children participating in activities, and Acme donated 400 of an estimated 800 hot dogs served during the event.

Mascots from local businesses were on hand to entertain kids at the Open House, which included a med-evac helicopter landing and a demonstration of automobile extraction equipment.