By Lyndsay Winkley
The San Diego Union-Tribune
OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Firefighters worked through the night to douse the blaze that ignited on the Oceanside Pier Thursday, seriously damaging the wooden structure and several buildings atop it.
In an update on the city’s website Friday morning, city officials said firefighters had contained the fire to the far west end of the pier. Crews removed several planks to access the blaze and to protect the rest of the landmark.
The structures at the pier’s end — a vacant restaurant that used to be a Ruby’s Diner, the Brine Box and a bait shop — were all seriously damaged by the flames. But no further loss is anticipated, city officials said.
The pier and the beach surrounding it have been closed until further notice, according to the city. Activities at the Junior Seau Beach Recreation Center were canceled Friday, as well.
The blaze, which sent clouds of dark smoke into the sky, was spotted at the empty restaurant about 3 p.m. Thursday.
More than 200 firefighters, lifeguards and police officers poured in from Oceanside and nearby cities to help put out the fire. Even a construction company that was nearby to dredge the harbor sent a boat to assist.
Officials worried the nearly 2,000-foot-long pier — the longest wooden pier on the West Coast — might be lost, but crews got a handle on the blaze by 7 p.m.
It’s unclear how much damage the fire caused, but city officials have already committed to fixing the iconic structure. How long that process may take remains unclear.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
In the video below, Gordon Graham discusses radio discipline and use on the fireground. While the radio can be a life-saving tool, we must take care to use it properly.
This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.
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