It’s been 24 hours since that devastating fire began on the Oceanside Pier. The firefight has been going on virtually nonstop with crews from all around the county working together. NBC 7’s Jackie Crea has the latest.
For Day 1 coverage of the fire on the Oceanside Pier, click here
The fire that erupted Thursday at the end of the long-standing Oceanside Pier is "under control," fire officials said on Friday night. The cause and origin of the blaze are still being investigated.
"All forward progress on the fire has been stopped, and we are confident that we can move into the overhaul phase, which is just continuing to monitor the conditions, ensuring that there are no hidden fires that are going to flare up," Blake Dorse, a division chief with the Oceanside Fire Department, said during Friday's 7 p.m. news conference.
Covering the Oceanside Pier fire
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Dozens of fire crews worked through Thursday night and Friday by land and sea to extinguish the massive blaze.
A steady smolder continued Friday as crews hosed the pier. This was in contrast to the thick plume of dark smoke that rose around the North County coastal city at around 3 p.m. the day before. Fire officials told NBC 7 that there were four firefighting boats and two rescue boats in the water again pouring water on hot spots early Friday morning.
A fire deputy chief was on site getting intel via helicopter on the status of the fire. The city was also using drones to get a visual underneath the pier.
During Thursday night, Oceanside Fire Chief David Parsons told NBC 7 that crews decided to step back and let the fire burn as it had been burning in some hard-to-reach areas. The fire was burning underneath the deck of the pier, which was difficult to access but a gap was cut into the pier to prevent the fire from traveling further toward the coast.
"There was a roof collapse of the restaurant building but no additional damage to the pier itself," Parsons said.
"We are estimating that 90% of the pier is undamaged by the fire."
Throughout the day, firefighters in full gear carved out areas of debris from the pier, then, cleared out so crews by boat could douse the opening in water. The goal was to target the hard-to-reach spots below the deck.
City engineers have evaluated the pier and believe the structure is stable. It is not clear if, or when, the pier could possibly re-open, but Parsons was hopeful the efforts of rescue crews would make that possible.
When the fire erupted Thursday, the first fire crews were at the scene within 5 minutes. By the time the firefight was in full force, more than 100 personnel from agencies across San Diego County were contributing to the efforts. About half remained on scene for the battle Friday.
Firefighting boats arrived on the scene shooting water cannons at the structure at the end of the pier, where it broadens to support two structures and is called the hammerhead. There were also fire crews posted up at the foot of the pier with hoses running the length of the pier.
Over at the coast, people had started to congregate to watch the blaze, with some posing for selfies with the historic structure aflame behind them.
Over the next several hours, a helicopter jointly operated by Cal Fire and the San Diego Sheriff's Department arrived to make a water drop on the structure fire — a very rare sight. San Diego Fire Rescue's new Triton firefighting vessel also arrived to aid in the efforts. Carlsbad, Vista, North County Fire and Camp Pendleton all sent ground crews to help out as well, officials told NBC 7.
Parsons also credits a brand-new fire impression system in saving the majority of the historic pier. Last year, the city of Oceanside spent $5.5 million to upgrade aging pipes and electrical systems on the 1,954-foot-long pier.
The dilapidated fire suppression system -- which allows a fire engine to hook fire lines directly between a hard line from the city to a port on the pier -- was replaced just months before Thursday's fire, Parsons said.
"And, I'm going to say, 'Thank goodness,' because we used it right off the bat. It was robust. It was strong. That's a factor in saving this pier," Parsons said.
As of 7 p.m. Friday, all jurisdictional partners have been released, and one engine will remain at the scene overnight, Dorse explained. Fire officials will reevaluate the situation on Saturday morning.
The investigation into what caused the fire and where it exactly started is still ongoing, officials said. Parsons said it could take days or even weeks before the report could be completed.
"The area of origin is in the Ruby's area or the pier area with the Ruby's nearby," Parsons said.
He added that the building — which was a Ruby's Diner before it closed three years ago — is considered a total loss.
"There was a new vendor that was doing some remodeling. We were getting ready to hopefully have a new restaurant open, so it was in the process of that tenant improvement," Parsons said at an earlier news conference.
He explained the building's kitchen area was being used by the Brine Box, the next-door grab-and-go window, which was also engulfed by the flames.
“Chef Rachel saw smoke coming up from underneath the pier, behind the old Ruby’s building," Jessica Waite, the co-owner of the Brine Box, told NBC 7. "Thankfully, everyone was evacuated safely. We are so sad to see this happening."
Businesses and restaurants near the pier, including the Famous High Pie at the Top Gun House, were closed because of the onshore winds carrying smoke and ash to the coastline, the pie shop's operator told NBC 7.
Officials were also concerned about a sewage tank that was suspended underneath the deck, but as of Friday morning it was reported that there was no damage to the tank and no visible spillage had occurred.
Even without any sewage seepage into the ocean, there were other contaminants that could pose a hazard to swimmers, surfers and beachgoers. An indication of this were the charred wood pieces were washing to shore. The U.S. Coast Guard issued a "safety zone" and no one would be allowed within 500 yards of the pier.
The beach closure from Tyson Street to Surfrider Way was expected to remain in effect throughout the weekend. San Diego County's Department of Environmental Health and Quality would test the waters Saturday morning.
Fire officials say smoldering and little flareups may be seen over the next few days. They also asked the public not to pick up any debris washing up on the shore for health and safety concerns.
According to Dorse, an emergency city council meeting is set for next Wednesday at 3 p.m. to ratify the proclamation for a local emergency.
Local leaders were working to declare a state of emergency in order to potentially secure state and federal resources, Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez said. The mayor added she was also in coordination with state representatives, who were in contact with the governor's office to get a state emergency declaration made.
Once those steps are completed, Congressman Mike Levin, who represents the area that includes the Oceanside Pier, said federal officials would provide whatever resources were needed to re-establish the pier.
"You know, maybe like you, when I saw the images and the videos yesterday at around this time, I was concerned that the pier would be a total loss. That this iconic symbol for our entire district was at risk. But because of [crews'] hard work, we’re going to be able to save most of this pier, and I can’t give them enough credit,” Levin said.
The wooden structure was first built in 1888 but has been destroyed twice in its lifetime, once in 1890 by rough seas and, after it was rebuilt, again in 1902.
Thursday's fire is not the first building to burn on the site: In 1976, "a fire broke out in the Pier Fish Market, located halfway out on the pier and in December the Pier Cafe was completely destroyed by fire," according to the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. The current pier was built in 1987.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries. Sanchez, who said the city would rebuild, stated at the news conference that all employees had been accounted for.
No other information was available.
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