New south side fire house ready for concrete pouring, then block and mortar

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Oct. 8, 2026) Despite project delays, construction on Ocean Pines’ new south fire station is officially underway at 911 Ocean Parkway, as the association takes the first steps to replace its outdated structure with a modern, spacious public safety facility.

The Ocean Pines Association announced last week that the contractor, The Whayland Company, and the community’s public works department were doing site work to prepare the property for footing excavation and a concrete pour.

The original facility on the property was built in the 1980s, but has now been demolished.

In a press release issued by OPA last Friday, General Manager John Viola said, “I am happy that the work has started. Public Works is doing some of the excavation work in preparation for the concrete, resulting in favorable savings on the project to Ocean Pines.”

On Sept. 10, the association received the final sign-off on its required permits. Crews will proceed with concrete and block work over the next few months.

Construction work was initially xpected to begin in late September but was postponed because of the heavy winds from the recent coastal storm.

Additionally, while now resolved, site preparation concerns were discovered in the spring that needed to be addressed before the next phase of construction could begin.

Viola said at a July OPA Board of Directors meeting that soil density issues beneath the site were revealed when the former firehouse was demolished. Testing required under modern construction regulations mandated additional preparation work to ensure a solid foundation.

Initial estimates called for about 20 truckloads of material to raise the site’s elevation and achieve proper soil compaction. However, over 100 truckloads were ultimately needed to meet compaction standards.

To reduce costs, OPA staff completed a portion of the site work itself, in conjunction with outside vendors. The association also leased the heavy equipment required for the project.

The OPVFD’s new fire station carries a price tag of about $6 million. A $1.52 million state grant was approved in 2022 for the project, and OPA has agreed to contribute up to $3.4 million. Ocean Pines’ share was approved via an association referendum during the 2025 board election.

The fire department will be responsible for any expense beyond that.

Once completed, the firehouse will come to about 15,000 square feet. The modern building will include separate bunk rooms for male and female firefighters, two apparatus bays, a decontamination station, and expanded parking, among other updates.

Viola said last week that the firehouse will take about 55 to 60 weeks to finish. The community can expect an operational south station around November or December 2027.