Firefighter Ronnie Phillips served 27 years

By Steve Price Contributing Writer

(June 9, 2023) This week we recognize Gold Badge Member Ronald “Ronnie” Phillips. Ronnie returned home to Ocean City in 1961 following a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, serving in the Navy Band in Washington, D.C.

Upon his return, he worked at various jobs during his 17-year career with the Eastern Shore Gas Company before being promoted to manager of the utility company serving the Berlin/Ocean City communities.

Ronnie’s Father, Mr. Orlando (Dicky) Phillips, retired from the B.E.S.T. Motels owned and operated by the Wilde Family in 1984 and Ronnie gladly assumed his position as maintenance supervisor for the motels before “retiring” in 2005 but continued to work part-time until 2018.

Influenced by long-time Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Fire Chief Al Harmon, a man with impeccable character and unwavering dedication to the volunteer fire company, Ronnie joined the OCVFC on Jan. 23, 1962.

Firefighter Phillips provided 27 years of active service to the volunteer fire company and was awarded

Gold Badge membership on Nov. 6, 1991.

The Phillips family commitment to “service to the community” continues through his son, Duane Phillips, a 24year career firefighter/paramedic with the Ocean City Fire Department. Ronnie recalls two significant events during his volunteer firefighting career — the “The March Storm of 1962” and the “Plimhimmon Hotel Fire” on Nov. 21, 1962. We will share Phillips’ vivid description of the extreme challenges faced by the OCVFC in its efforts to respond to both the violent and historical storm and the devastating blaze.

This is an opportunity to “Spotlight our Volunteers” and serve as a reminder of the long-standing dedication by the members of the OCVFC to the safety and well-being of our friends and neighbors as well as the visitors to our wonderful community. Below is a description of the two events in the words of Firefighter Phillips.

“On Monday, March 5th, we were warned that two low pressure systems were building – one in West Virginia and another along the coast of the Carolinas. Ultimately, the two lows merged off the Maryland coast. Coincidently, higher than normal lunar tides increased the impacts of the building storm – a freak wind from the northeast raised the tides seven to nine feet.

On Tuesday night, the weather bureau predicted the wind would shift to the northwest and drive the sea off the Ocean City coast. The wind failed to shift and remained from the Northeast for more than 48 hours. The damage to Ocean City was catastrophic!”

“I stood on the 2nd floor of our home on the corner of North Division Street and Baltimore Avenue and the ocean looked like a mountain. OCVFC Engine #8 was on the street in front of our house with all the tires flat and water over the wheels. I was a rookie firefighter, only being a fireman since January.

“I was stationed on the Route 50 bridge. The U.S. Coast Guard “Duck” along with several firemen were rescuing people from the rising water, bringing them to the bridge, where we helped them onto buses to be transported to Stephen Decatur High School. The water was 12 to 15 feet at the bridge. I could see propane tanks, refrigerators, furniture, lumber and much more floating down Philadelphia Avenue toward the Inlet.”

“On Nov. 21, 1962, “The Plimhimmon Hotel fire at Second Street and the Boardwalk was another significant event in my career. My wife, Frances, and I were married on Oct. 6th 1962 and we were living on North Division Street at the time of the fire.

“The fire siren blew and blew and blew in the middle of the night – from our home it looked like all of Ocean City was on fire! It was one of the biggest fires ever fought by the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company. The fire was so hot and so intense it melted the paint and cracked the windshields on many of the fire apparatus. The Town of Ocean City ran short of water, and I remember Mr. Rick Savage and Mr. Wayne Watson bringing their sea clam boats to 3rd Street and the bay to pump water to apparatus at the fire.”

Ronnie cites his greatest accomplishment was becoming a member of the OCVFC and serving our community with the many wonderful men of the OCVFC supported by the hard-working women of the OCVFC Ladies Auxiliary.

We thank Firefighter Phillips for his years of service in the U.S. Navy and for his many years of dedication to the safety and well-being of our neighbors and visitors to our resort community.

For membership information or to learn more visit www.ocvfc.com.