Flames erupted Thursday where the Oceanside Pier juts into the ocean, sending a thick plume of smoke that could be seen for miles into the air over the coastal haven.
The pier fire broke out shortly after 3 p.m., prompting a warning from the Oceanside Fire Department for residents and visitors to avoid the area.
The blaze burned in a structure that once housed a Ruby’s diner on the end of the pier. The restaurant closed three years ago.
Shortly before 6 p.m., Oceanside fire officials announced that crews had contained the blaze to the seaward end of the pier and were making progress toward fully extinguishing the flames.
The city also reported on its website that all people who had been working on and visiting the pier had been “accounted for.” There were no injuries.
Live video from the scene showed clouds of smoke emanating from flames on the underside of the pier, as well as from the building. Crews on the scene reported that railings on the south side of the pier had collapsed.
Firefighters were seen positioned on the pier, aided by at least two fire boats that sprayed ocean water onto the blaze. Crews on scene also requested air support to help douse the flames.
A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter arrived at the scene by 4:30 p.m. to join the effort. Cal Fire and San Diego Gas & Electric also sent in water-dropping helicopters.
Other agencies that provided aid included Carlsbad and Vista fire, the California Office of Emergency Services, Camp Pendleton and San Diego Lifeguards, the city said.
In addition to the pier, restaurants on the western reaches of its promenade were damaged by the blaze, according to city officials.
Fire inspectors, they added, are on scene, “and we should know more about the cause of the fire in a few days.”
The pier, at roughly 1,950 feet, is billed as the longest on the West Coast.
The original structure was built in the 1880s, but the most recent version opened to the public in 1987. The original pier was destroyed by rough waters in 1890. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1896, but destroyed again in 1902.
— City News Service
Updated 7:30 p.m. April 25, 2024