Announcement

Summer fire safety tips and update on OPVFD fundraisers

Monday, June 17, 2024

(June 17, 2024) Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department President Joe Enste spoke on June 15 about summer safety and recent fundraising efforts.

Enste said Ocean Pines is a tight-knit community – literally and figuratively – with most lots being close together and heavily wooded.

“We need to make sure that if we're having our bonfires and grilling and things like that, we are complying with all the regulations,” he said. “If you go to the Fire Department website, there's a long list of regulations as far as how to be in compliance.”

Each year, he said, there are multiple complaints and issues with bonfires and campfires.

Enste also had a word of caution about using fireworks on and around the Fourth of July holiday.

“Everyone loves fireworks … but let's leave it to the professionals,” he said.

Enste said Maryland allows certain types of ground-based sparklers and other small fireworks, but most of those are not ideal for heavily wooded areas like Ocean Pines, especially during the hotter and dryer parts of the year.

“Even the things that they sell at Walmart that are legal [are] not really a great thing to have in our community,” he said. “With all the brush that we have and as close as our community is to one another, it could cause problems.”

He added the community has had issues with fireworks accidents before, including starting fires and individuals becoming injured – or even losing fingers.

“Please be careful. Leave the fireworks to the professionals,” Enste said.

Enste also spoke about ongoing fundraising efforts of OPVFD that support everything from vehicle replacement and staffing to replacement of the South Fire Station.

The Fire Department’s annual truck raffle this year features a 2024 Ford F-150 valued at $54,045. Tickets are $100, and that includes all taxes and other expenses associated with winning the vehicle – a potential savings of $18,000 for the winner.

“Keep in mind we're only selling 2,500 tickets and, as soon as we sell those 2,500 tickets, we'll do the raffle,” he said.

For more information on the truck raffle, visit opvfd.com/f-150.

OPVFD is also doing a weekly “Queen of Hearts” tournament, similar to games played at local Elks Lodges or VFWs.

“Tickets are $5 a piece and the jackpot is up over $11,000 right now,” Enste said. “Every week that the queen of hearts isn't located, we're going to continue to roll those winnings over into the next week, and that jackpot will continue to grow.”

Drawings are held at 5:30 p.m. each Tuesday and are livestreamed on the OPVFD Facebook page.

For more information, visit opvfd.com/queen-of-hearts.

For more information on OPVFD, visit opvfd.com or call 410-641-8272.

Announcement

Summer fire safety tips and update on OPVFD fundraisers

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