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26 April 2024
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Major fire on Oceanside Pier, California, US
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Oceanside Fire Department firefighters were called out Thursday afternoon, 25 April 2024, to battle a large fire at the far end of the iconic Oceanside Pier located in Oceanside, northern San Diego County in California, US. The fire was reported shortly after 15h00 and the firefight stretched overnight and into Friday. First responders arrived five minutes after the call. Both Calfire and SDGE helicopters worked the fire from above, as well as Oceanside Fire and partners that pulled lines down the Pier.
A massive plume of smoke quickly filled the sky and two firefighting boats arrived on scene shooting water cannons at the structure at the end of the pier, where it broadens to support two structures and is called the hammerhead.
Although smoke obscured the scene, the building at the end of the pier was burning furiously. The structure was once the site of the Ruby's Diner, which has stood empty since the business closed three years ago.
At 4 o'clock, a third vessel had joined the fight as well as a U.S. Coast Guard cutter but smoke continued to pour out all sides of the two-story building as well as beneath the pier, with only a few flames actually visible. Over at the coast, people had started to congregate to watch the conflagration, with some posing for selfies with the historic structure aflame behind them.
Luckily for the crews working on the boats, the surf was only 2-3 feet, easing their efforts. High surf would have vastly increased the challenges fighting the fire.
Speaking at a news conference at around 17h00, Oceanside Fire Chief David Parsons said lifeguards were the first to report the fire and firefighters arrived five minutes later. He also stated that the main body of the fire had essentially been knocked down and that they were now focusing on keeping it under control, though the deck was still burning, which is where firefighters were concentrating their efforts.
By 5:15, a second firefighting aircraft, this one operated by SDG&E and mostly used to battle brush fires, had been deployed for the pier fire as well, dropping as much as 2 500 gallons at a time. By 17h30 charred pieces of the pier had begun washing ashore.
At a second news conference held at 15h45, Parsons said that fire had been stopped at 15 feet just past the hammerhead. "This is really, really good news," Parsons said, "and like I said, we think we have forward progress stopped there. What that means is that the vast majority of the pier itself is in good, undamaged condition."
A fire update for Oceanside Fire Department on 25 April 2024 at 18h00, stated, “Crews have made good progress and the fire is well contained to the end of the Pier. They'll be working through the night to ensure complete extinguishment. All people working on and visiting the Pier were accounted for. There were no injuries. Fire inspectors are on scene and we should know more about the cause of the fire in a few days. Thank you for remaining away from the area tonight to protect yourself from smoke.”
At 4 o'clock, a third vessel had joined the fight as well as a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, but smoke continued to pour out all sides of the two-story building as well as beneath the pier, with only a few flames actually visible. Over at the coast, people had started to congregate to watch the conflagration, with some posing for selfies with the historic structure aflame behind them.
Luckily for the crews working on the boats, the surf was only 2-3 feet, easing their efforts. High surf would have vastly increased the challenges fighting the fire. “We extend a grateful thank you to Oceanside Fire and Police, along with our neighbouring first responders: Carlsbad and Vista Fire, Calfire, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department helicopter unit ASTREA, California Office of Emergency Services, Camp Pendleton, San Diego Hazmat, US Coast Guard, SDGE helicopter, SD Lifeguards and more. We couldn't do it without you!”
At 07h00am the following morning, their update was: “Firefighting efforts have contained the fire to the far west end of the Pier. Firefighters removed some planks across the Pier for fire access and to protect the rest of the Pier. The structures (vacant restaurant and small food service structure, The Brine Box) are heavily damaged. No further loss of the Pier is anticipated. A fire investigation to determine the cause is underway.
The Oceanside Pier, located in Oceanside, in northern San Diego County, California, is the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline at 1 954 feet.
Sources: Oceanside Fire Department, NBC San Diego
A massive plume of smoke quickly filled the sky and two firefighting boats arrived on scene shooting water cannons at the structure at the end of the pier, where it broadens to support two structures and is called the hammerhead.
Although smoke obscured the scene, the building at the end of the pier was burning furiously. The structure was once the site of the Ruby's Diner, which has stood empty since the business closed three years ago.
At 4 o'clock, a third vessel had joined the fight as well as a U.S. Coast Guard cutter but smoke continued to pour out all sides of the two-story building as well as beneath the pier, with only a few flames actually visible. Over at the coast, people had started to congregate to watch the conflagration, with some posing for selfies with the historic structure aflame behind them.
Luckily for the crews working on the boats, the surf was only 2-3 feet, easing their efforts. High surf would have vastly increased the challenges fighting the fire.
Speaking at a news conference at around 17h00, Oceanside Fire Chief David Parsons said lifeguards were the first to report the fire and firefighters arrived five minutes later. He also stated that the main body of the fire had essentially been knocked down and that they were now focusing on keeping it under control, though the deck was still burning, which is where firefighters were concentrating their efforts.
By 5:15, a second firefighting aircraft, this one operated by SDG&E and mostly used to battle brush fires, had been deployed for the pier fire as well, dropping as much as 2 500 gallons at a time. By 17h30 charred pieces of the pier had begun washing ashore.
At a second news conference held at 15h45, Parsons said that fire had been stopped at 15 feet just past the hammerhead. "This is really, really good news," Parsons said, "and like I said, we think we have forward progress stopped there. What that means is that the vast majority of the pier itself is in good, undamaged condition."
A fire update for Oceanside Fire Department on 25 April 2024 at 18h00, stated, “Crews have made good progress and the fire is well contained to the end of the Pier. They'll be working through the night to ensure complete extinguishment. All people working on and visiting the Pier were accounted for. There were no injuries. Fire inspectors are on scene and we should know more about the cause of the fire in a few days. Thank you for remaining away from the area tonight to protect yourself from smoke.”
At 4 o'clock, a third vessel had joined the fight as well as a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, but smoke continued to pour out all sides of the two-story building as well as beneath the pier, with only a few flames actually visible. Over at the coast, people had started to congregate to watch the conflagration, with some posing for selfies with the historic structure aflame behind them.
Luckily for the crews working on the boats, the surf was only 2-3 feet, easing their efforts. High surf would have vastly increased the challenges fighting the fire. “We extend a grateful thank you to Oceanside Fire and Police, along with our neighbouring first responders: Carlsbad and Vista Fire, Calfire, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department helicopter unit ASTREA, California Office of Emergency Services, Camp Pendleton, San Diego Hazmat, US Coast Guard, SDGE helicopter, SD Lifeguards and more. We couldn't do it without you!”
At 07h00am the following morning, their update was: “Firefighting efforts have contained the fire to the far west end of the Pier. Firefighters removed some planks across the Pier for fire access and to protect the rest of the Pier. The structures (vacant restaurant and small food service structure, The Brine Box) are heavily damaged. No further loss of the Pier is anticipated. A fire investigation to determine the cause is underway.
The Oceanside Pier, located in Oceanside, in northern San Diego County, California, is the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline at 1 954 feet.
Sources: Oceanside Fire Department, NBC San Diego
