Smoker’s BBQ Pit, the popular west Ocean City restaurant, has closed indefinitely after a fire was caused by a lightning strike.
The barbeque restaurant, located at 9711 Stephen Decatur Highway, was struck by lightning at 4:14 a.m. on Tuesday, June 27, as listed on the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company’s live run log. The lightning strike caused a massive fire, which destroyed the interior of the building as well as a part of the side.
Ocean City Fire Department crews brought the fire under control quickly. Additional assistance was provided by the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company, the Worcester County Fire Marshal Police said in a news release.
Deputies from the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and conducted a fire scene examination. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, with severe weather believed to have been a contributing factor, the news release reported.
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“We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident from Mother Nature,” Smoker’s BBQ Pit said in a June 27 Facebook post. “While this stinks, it’s not a total loss! We need time to rebuild and come back better than ever!”
According to the restaurant’s official website, Smoker’s BBQ Pit, established in 1996, is known for its on-site, real wood smoking of pork, beef, chicken and fish, as well as numerous homemade side dishes with a Southern flare.
“We will see you soon,” the barbeque restaurant assured its customer base.
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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
