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Apple Drugs partially reopens after fire early Sat. morning

SUBMITTED PHOTO/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
A fire struck the Apple Discount Drugs in Berlin early Saturday morning. The store was closed for several days, but reopened on Tuesday. A representative from Apple Drugs thanked responding fire companies, as well as the local businesses that helped the store to reopen. The blaze was ruled an accident, according to the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Nov. 15, 2018) A fire early Saturday morning shut down the Apple Discount Drugs store in Berlin for several days.

Matthew Owens, chief deputy with the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office, said the incident was reported at about 4:15 a.m. and responding volunteer fire companies included Berlin, Showell, Ocean Pines, Ocean City and Newark.

“The units were on the scene for approximately two-and-a-half hours,” Owens said. “There was severe fire damage to the roof area, with smoke and water damage to the interior of the building.”

The cause of the fire is listed as accidental, Owens said.

Berlin Planning Director Dave Engelhart during a Town Council meeting on Tuesday said the large, illuminated Apple logo facing the highway is what actually caused the fire. He said damage to the building was largely water damage and the fire marshal planned to reassess the condition of the building during the next several days. Engelhart said he would also visit the site.

He added the store had reopened, but was operating only through its drive-through window. Additional prescriptions were being filled at sister stores in Snow Hill and Fruitland, Engelhart said.

Zack Sherr, assistant director of store operations, confirmed damage was done to the upper part of the store near the Apple sign facing Route 113, and the front portion of store remains blocked off.

Sherr thanked the Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Berlin fire departments, Service Master, SVN – Sperry Van Ness, Absolute Security, McIntyre’s Electrical Service and Pintail Builders.