Small Fire Causes Minor Damage at Public Safety Building

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI A small fire caused by a faulty computer broke out at the Ocean City Public Safety Building on Thursday night. Police Chief Jay Prettyman said the fire was contained to an office on the second floor. There was only a minor amount of damage, but a lot of smoke, he said. “It was more aggravation getting the smoke and soot cleaned up than anything damaged,” Prettyman said in a text Friday. Ocean City firefighters rushed to Public Safety Building at 821 Central Ave. at about 7 p.m. Thursday. Prettyman said that it was a faulty computer that caused the fire. “It was only in an office and it was definitely a computer that started it. The electrical outlets were fine so it’s not building related,” he said. The Public Safety Building dates to the late 1800s and once served as a school. The Public Safety Building serves as the Police Department’s headquarters and the location of the Ocean City Municipal Court. The building, which was a school before it was converted into the police headquarters, dates to 1884, according to a sign on the front of the facility. Mayor Jay Gillian and City Council have been discussing plans for a new public safety building, but have not yet come to an agreement on the project. Earlier this year, Gillian said he plans to hold a public meeting to discuss ideas – both old and new – for developing a new police headquarters. A date has not yet been announced for the meeting.