Oceanside Pier fire now contained, officials say

Firefighters have managed to contain a large fire that broke out on the Oceanside Pier on Thursday, according to a statement from the city.

A livestream from KGTV in San Diego showed a massive smoke plume emanating from the end of the pier. The fire began at 3 p.m., and first responders arrived five minutes after the call, the city said. No injuries were reported, and those working on and visiting the pier have been accounted for, officials said.

“Crews are making good progress and the fire is contained to the end of the pier,” an update from the city read. “They’ll be working through the night to ensure extinguishment.”

“We are asking all citizens to please stay away from the immediate area,” the Oceanside Fire Department wrote on Facebook. The city has continued to advise people to stay away from the pier due to the smoke.

Jessica Waithe, operator of the Brine Box restaurant at the end of the pier, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that several employees were working when the fire broke out, but all were able to leave safely.

The pier, built in 1887 and rebuilt five times since, stretches for 1,942 feet, making it one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast.

In the late 1970s, a strong winter storm whipped up waves that swept a 560-foot chunk of the pier — including a bait shop and restaurant — out to sea. During the winter of 1982-83, the ocean struck again, damaging the aging structure and leaving a 110-foot-long section standing as an odd-looking island.