Ocean City police are hunting for whoever lit illegal fireworks that torched a swath of dune grass late Saturday, chewing through protected vegetation near 116th and 117th Streets just as the resort barrels into peak summer season.
According to WJLA, the Ocean City Fire Department said the blaze broke out around 9:21 p.m. in the area of 116th and 117th Streets and "wiped out an area of protected beach grass." Investigators are asking anyone with information to email the Office of the Fire Marshal at [email protected].
Town rules and safety push
Ocean City puts on its own fireworks shows but tightly restricts what visitors can set off themselves. Town materials note that many consumer fireworks are banned on the beach and that ground-based sparkling devices are not legal to use or possess within town limits. The Town of Ocean City promotes free official displays and urges visitors to stick with those instead of bringing their own pyrotechnics.
The timing of this blaze is especially frustrating for officials, who had already been warning that dry conditions were making outdoor fires riskier than usual. A countywide burn ban was put in place earlier this spring to curb that risk, as WMDT reported, because even a small ignition could spread fast.
Why dune grass matters
"Dune grass plays a critical role in protecting our coastline from erosion and storm impacts," the Ocean City Fire Department said, per WJLA. Coastal engineers and federal guidance explain that vegetated dunes help trap wind-blown sand and form a natural buffer against storm surge and erosion, so damaging that vegetation can weaken the shoreline’s first line of defense.
A review of dune stabilization strategies from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers details why plantings and sand fencing are commonly used to rebuild and protect foredunes, underscoring how much work it takes to restore what a single careless fire can wipe out, according to USACE.
What officials want from the public
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the fireworks, the fire, or has video from the area to reach out to the Fire Marshal’s Office. Tips are already being collected to help identify whoever is responsible.
Authorities say that preventing dune damage is far faster and cheaper than trying to rebuild it after a blaze. Their message to visitors heading into the busiest weeks of summer is simple: enjoy the sanctioned town fireworks shows, and leave the illegal stuff at home.
