Engine re-dedicated to fallen OC firefighter

(July 21, 2023) Members of the Ocean City Fire Department recently held a “solemn yet heartfelt re-dedication ceremony” for Engine 704 in honor of one of their own who died 40 year earlier in the line of duty.

According to a news release, Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Firefighter Jeffrey L. Dieter Sr. died July 16, 1983, whole fighting to a blaze at the Saute Cafe on 123rd Street.

The ceremony to re-dedicate on July 16 commemorated the “invaluable contributions” Dieter made to the department’s history.

The fire broke out 40 years ago around 6:30 a.m. The flames reportedly escalated rapidly, reaching fouralarm status and requiring the efforts of roughly 115 firefighters to get the situation under control. While batting the fire, the building’s roof collapsed, claiming the life of Dieter, who was 24 at the time.

At the recent ceremony, the release said Deputy Chief James L. Jester expressed the importance of commemorating Dieter’s selfless service.

“Today, we gather to remember a true hero, Firefighter Jeffrey L. Dieter, Sr., who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” Jester said in the release. “His bravery and ded- ication to protecting our community serve as an enduring inspiration to each and every one of us in the Ocean City Fire Department. We honor his memory today as we re-dedicate Engine 704, symbolizing the ongoing