Firefighters in Oceanside, California, are valiantly battling a massive blaze that has engulfed the city’s iconic wooden pier. The fire erupted shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, originating in a vacant building that once housed a Ruby’s Diner at the pier’s western end. According to officials, the blaze has caused substantial damage to the structure, sending up a towering plume of smoke visible from miles away. While the cause of the fire is still being investigated, aerial footage captured firefighters utilizing water cannons from nearby fireboats to combat the flames.
The Oceanside Fire Department has requested that residents avoid the area as first responders work diligently to extinguish the fire. The pier, steeped in history, has twice before fallen victim to destruction. In 1890, a storm brought it crashing down, leading to its reconstruction in 1896. However, tragedy struck again in 1902 when another storm dealt the pier a devastating blow. A similar incident occurred in 2016 on the Seal Beach Pier, where another former Ruby’s Diner building was ravaged by fire due to an electrical issue. The Oceanside pier’s resilience shines through its ability to withstand the ravages of time and nature, but this latest blaze serves as a stark reminder of its susceptibility to destruction.