On Thursday afternoon, flames engulfed the historic Oceanside Pier in southern California. The fire originated in a vacant restaurant at the end of the pier in North County San Diego.
Crews worked into the night to contain and fully extinguish the flames that burned on the 2,000-foot-long wooden pier.
Thursday Afternoon’s Fire
On Thursday afternoon, a fire broke out at the end of the pier. Videos of the fire quickly started appearing online, which showed how quickly the fire was spreading.
FOX 5 San Diego reports that residents in Vista, located 10 miles east of the pier, and Del Mar, located 20 miles south, could see smoke from the fire.
Authorities Ask Citizens to Stay Away
The Oceanside Fire Department currently fights a fire on the Oceanside Pier,” the department stated on social media Thursday. “We are asking all citizens to please stay away from the immediate area.”
Crews worked overnight to extinguish the fire and reported no injuries. Now investigators are determining the cause of the large fire.
The Start of the Fire
The fire, which broke out around 3 p.m. PT at the end of the pier damaged both the structure of the wooden pier and the restaurant located there.
A lifeguard spotted the fire near the building that once was Ruby’s Diner. Soon after people spotted the fire, images and videos flooded social media showing a large black plume of smoke coming from the end of the iconic pier.
Over 206 Responders Arrive on the Scene
The Oceanside Fire Department responded to the scene quickly and started to fight the blaze from the ground. The U.S. The Coast Guard assisted the fire department from the water, while the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection assisted from a helicopter.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that 144 firefighters, 30 lifeguards, and 32 police officers were on the scene.
The Fire Seemed to Be Out by Midnight
By 6 p.m., crews had largely contained the fire at the end of the pier. However, they worked late into the night to ensure complete extinguishment of the fire.
At 11:25 p.m., the crew announced that the fire was extinguished. The beach around the pier remains closed from the pier south to Tyson Street “to keep the community safe from any debris that washes up,” the fire department said on Facebook.
The Fire Was Out By Monday Morning
While firefighters announced that the fire had been put out close to midnight, the fire continued to burn for several days. Fire officials in Oceanside announced in a press conference on Monday morning that the fire was officially out.
“There is no more damage being done to the pier,” Oceanside Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Jess Specht said.
Fire Crews Prevented the Fire From Spreading
To prevent the fire from spreading further down the pier, fire officials put a “trench cut” in the deck, which means they removed a section of the pier to allow crews to access flames burning underneath the wood while preventing the fire from spreading.
Fire crews worked around the clock for nearly four days to put the fire out.
Fire Officials Believe It was an Accidental Fire
Even though the flames and lingering embers were extinguished, fire officials were unable to identify the definitive cause of the pier fire by Monday morning.
OFD Fire Chief David Parsons believes that the fire was most likely accidental. “No evidence of an incendiary or intentional act was found,” Parsons said.
The Damage Left Behind
Officials stated that the fire caused “significant damage” to the closed diner and that the structural support underneath the Brine Box could be at risk.
Power to the pier is currently out. Crews have placed warning lights along the edge of the pier to alert boats so they don’t run into it.
Arson Was Ruled Out
Since the fire, investigators have ruled out arson as the possible cause of the fire, according to NBC San Diego. This decision was made based on where the fire started and how it caused extensive damage.
The damage to the pier has forced the indefinite closure of the landmark in the northwestern coastal town of San Diego County.
No Evidence of Foul Play
Parsons and other fire officials assumed that the fire was an accident based on canines, reports, videos, interviews, and fire dynamics research.
“And everything leads us to believe, based on canine [searches], reports, videos, witness interviews, fire dynamics, which is how fire moves, and then also patterns that we see in the structure … that an incendiary liquid, which could be indicative of potential arson — none of that’s present,” Parsons said.
Fire Started By a Possible Electrical Error
Now, investigators are working to determine what the cause of the fire was. “One prevailing theory suggests that an electrical heat source may have ignited the fire.
Video evidence and witness interviews suggest that the fire started on the northwest side of the pier next to the former Ruby’s Diner site.
The Fire Seemed to Not Start In Ruby’s Diner
Parsons emphasized that the former Ruby’s Diner, which has become as iconic as the pier itself, was not destroyed by the fire despite the roof collapsing.
“Definitely not derelict, definitely not abandoned, just in a closed state awaiting permits and plans to get a new tenant into the space. Smoke alarms did activate in the Ruby’s. Sprinkler system did activate in the Ruby’s. Again, those are interior life safety systems not designed to stop a fire that’s coming from the exterior,” Parsons said.
A Formal Report Is Underway
Everything around the hammerhead area, or the end of the end of the pier, appears to have sustained “significant damage” from the fire, according to the fire chief. The pier’s decking and structure, the restaurant, and the small kiosk eatery took the most damage from the blaze.
A formal report on the investigation has yet to be released to the public. This report should come in a matter of weeks, according to Parsons.
No One Was Injured By the Fire
Currently, Ruby’s Diner site was undergoing renovations at the time the pier fires started, according to city officials.
The former Ruby’s Diner was vacant at the time of the fires. According to Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez , all employees at the nearby Brine Box were accounted for, and no injuries were reported.
Brine Box Expresses Their Grief
Brine Box, a fish restaurant near the end of the pier, seems to have also caught on fire. The restaurant posted an update on social media, writing: “What’s happening on the pier is sad and scary. We want you to know that our team is safe.
The post continued: “From what we have heard the fire started under the pier, and everyone made it off ok. We will keep you updated as we learn more. Thank you for all of your kind words of support. We appreciate you all so much.”
The History of the Pier
The builders constructed the Oceanside Pier in 1888, and it quickly gained fame as the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline.
The pier was one of the most popular places in the city, allowing people to fish and enjoy leisurely walks while admiring the spectacular coastline near San Diego.
The Sixth Time the Pier Has Been Destroyed
This isn’t the first time that the historic pier has encountered misfortune. According to VisitOceanside, the city’s tourism bureau, the structure has been destroyed and rebuilt five times.
The raging sea, in which the pier stands, caused a majority of its destruction, and the current structure dates back to 1987.
The Importance of the Pier
The pier has been the backdrop for the coastal city since its opening day in 1888. According to the city, the pier has been the site of Oceanside events such as surf competitions and concerts.
Investigators and the city have not yet identified the cause of the fire, nor have they determined a reopening date for the pier as they attempt to assess the extent of the damage caused by the blaze.
Residents Are in Disbelief
One user on X, formerly called Twitter, recalled taking trips to Oceanside to eat at the 1950s-style diner. “I remember how it would rock and sway with the waves,” the user wrote. “Totally trippy experience but cool.”
Residents of Oceanside express their grief over the damaged pier. “I’m devastated right now,” Richard Sonayda said. “I surfed and fished on the pier when I was a little boy.”
Oceanside Mayor Speaks on the Pier’s Future
Sanchez said at a press briefing about the fire that the damage done will be a blow for the city as the summer months approach. However, she will be putting effort into rebuilding the pier as soon as possible.
“This is a very, very critical pier for us,” Sanchez said at a press briefing. “It’s iconic for Oceanside.”
The Pier Remains Closed to the Public
While the pier remains closed to the public for the time being, city officials state that they are working to get the pier reopened as soon as possible.
“With that being said, as soon as possible, we are going to reopen the pier to the public, and we should have 75 percent of this pier back open to the public as quickly as possible,” said OFD Division Chief Community Risk Reduction Blake Dorse.
Most of the Pier Survived the Fire
The city is working with contractors on installing temporary fencing to block off the damaged end of the pier. This would allow residents, tourists, and other businesses to come back to the pier.
Roughly 95 percent of the pier remains intact, which means that only the hammerhead end will need to be rebuilt.
