October 25, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 13 . . Property Owner ‘Grateful’ For OCFD FROM PAGE 12 the bay to its beachfront location at 7th Street. The Majestic Hotel included at least two small stores under Boardwalk level where the fire originated and the Savage family this week was sorting out what to do next and plan for a speedy recovery. “At this point, all we can do is wait and see what the insurance companies are going to do,” said Will Savage in a Facebook post to supporters this week. “Both of the stores should be covered and should be just an inconvenience. There are several issues that we will need to address with the hotel. We have hired a wellknown consulting company to assist us. This will take time and we are not willing to remove anything until we have some answers.” Much of the damage appeared to be concentrated in the ground level stores although there was likely smoke and water damage throughout the establishment. Savage said the below-Boardwalk level stores were a total loss. “We have gone through the convenience store and there is nothing of value in the entire place,” he said. “The sunglass shop had smoke damage and due to the nature of the merchandise that we sell, it will likely be a total loss as well. The hotel may take some time to figure out because of the size of the property. We just need to see what is covered and at what price. We intend to fix all three businesses as they were and be open by next summer.” Savage, a long-time Ocean City firefighter, praised the efforts of the responding crews for containing the blaze and preventing further damage. “Twenty years ago this month, at the age of 14, I made one of the best decisions of my life,” he said. “That decision was to join the Ocean City Fire Department. Over the years, I have seen good things, bad things and some horrible things that I only wish I could forget. I have truly made lifelong friendships that are as close to me as family and I have never been prouder of my department.” Savage said he and his family are forever grateful for the efforts of the firefighters for containing the blaze and preventing further damage. “Without a doubt, they saved the hotel and who knows how many other buildings,” he said. “I am still shocked that they were able to hold the fire to the unit of origin. Considering the fire load, building construction and access issues, I’m still not sure how they managed to pull it off, but they did and for that I am truly grateful.” ☛✲✯✯✲✹¤✘✫5 ✣5✯✯✲✹¤✞✬✦✮ ✖✲✤✧¤✘✲¤✘✫5 ✗✷✱✧✤✺❈¤✦✶❇¤✾❃❈¤ ❀❆❂❉✿✼¤✳❇✰❇ ✟✫✬✯✧5✱’✵ ✟✲✵✶✷✰5 ✔✤✶✺ ❀¤✳❇✰❇¤✗✫✤✳ ✘✫5¤✛✬✦✮5✧ ✛✬✶✦✫¤✛✬✯✯ ✞5¤✗5✸✬✱✪ ✙✳¤✟✫✬✯✧5✱’✵ ✞✷✩✩5✶ ✟✲✰✳✯✬✰5✱✶✵ ✩¤✘✫5 ☛✯✺✬✱✪ ✑✲✱✮5✺✵q ❑✟✫✬✯✧5✱¤ ✽✼¤✤✱✧¤✙✱✧5v ✌✤✳✳✺¤✌✲✷ ✝✯✯¤✠✤✺¤x ✒✬✪✫✶q 54 ✹✹✹❇✘✹✬✱✬✱✪✵✵✫✤✱✶✺❇✦✲✰ ✿✼✾❆❀✿❂❆✾✿✼❁ ☛5✱✹✬✦✮ ✍✵✯✤✱✧