Oside to start pier debris removal
Nearly five months after a massive fire scorched the iconic pier, construction crews will start to move equipment onto the pier to remove debris
OCEANSIDE — Work will soon begin to remove debris from Oceanside Pier after a fire tore through the hammerhead and destroyed two structures on April 25.
City officials said Jilk Heavy Construction will begin moving equipment into position starting Monday, although work cannot begin in earnest until after the Super Girl Surf Pro competition. The event runs from Sept. 20-22.
The fire began on the west end of the 1,960-foot-long pier, which erupted and left a massive plum billowing toward the east for hours. Firefighters also “trenched,” or cut planks from the pier, about 50 feet east of the hammerhead to prevent the further spread of the fire.
Oceanside spokeswoman Terry Gorman Brown said preliminary work will begin with a crane being moved on the pier, which may require the temporary removal of the catwalk, and scaffolding being moved into position. From there, crews will begin removing debris from Ruby’s Diner and the Brine Box along with assessing the pilings for further damage.
This phase is expected to take 90 days, she said. Brown said the pier will remain open to residents and visitors, although there may be times when it must be closed to move heavy equipment or debris.
“They’re doing logistical work and a marine mammal report,” she added. “They’re won’t be too much action out there, just small setup stuff and maybe moving some debris until they can get more heavy equipment out there.”
Brown said work will be minimal until after the surfing competition, near the pier, as construction crews need space for a staging area. As for the pilings, she said crews will assess the damage to determine if any of them must be replaced.
Brown said initial assessments of the pilings don’t appear to show major structural damage, but crews will test those. There are dozens of pilings holding the hammerhead in place along with rows of three in intervals of about 15 feet cascading down the underbelly of the pier.
She said the debris removal will begin from the trench, about 50 feet from the hammerhead. The debris includes the structures, railings and deck planks.
As for the investigation, the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) has taken the lead, although Oceanside Fire Division Chief Blake Dorse said in April the cause was accidental. Brown said the ATF brought a trained dog to the pier to investigate for any suspect causes, but the dog did not hit on any incendiary or other potential causes.
She said the Oceanside Fire Department’s investigation points to a potential electrical cause. The ATF report is expected to be released in the coming days, Brown said.
Also, there are three concurrent insurance investigations, which is the reason it took until now for the removal of debris to commence, she said.
“The insurance investigators were still working so we couldn’t touch anything yet,” Brown added. “We’re allowed to go forward with the removal because we have to so they can finish their investigation. They’ve done everything they can now, and as we start removing things they will come back out and poke around some more.”
In April, Dorse said dispatch was notified at 3:02 p.m. with the first 911 call and crews arrived on scene five minutes later. Those who responded included fire boats with OFD from the harbor, the Coast Guard, San Diego Harbor Police, Cal Fire, city lifeguards, Carlsbad, Vista and Camp Pendleton, along with helicopters dispersing water from San Diego County and San Diego Gas & Electric, to name a few.
Ruby’s Diner and the Brine Box, a small food kiosk, were destroyed. Fire crews also trenched the pier to prevent the blaze from spreading further down the structure, Dorse said.
The trenching was part of OFD’s “defensive” tactics, which meant allowing the structures to burn but preventing the fire from advancing down the pier, Mayor Esther Sanchez said in a previous interview.
“We might even reopen that before the restaurant leaseholder has designs for a restaurant,” Brown said of the hammerhead. “It’s possible it could reopen as a deck to fish and hang out before the restaurant is even rebuilt. We’ll see how the timing works out on that. Maybe we’ll keep it closed until the leaseholder has their plans ready. They’re waiting for their insurance money, too, before they can get going on that.”
As for the cost of the repairs, she said it’s likely insurance will cover the costs, but the full rehabilitation of the pier could take several years. However, Assemblywoman Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel), State Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) and Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA), have all urged state agencies to expedite the permitting process to allow the city a quicker timeline, Brown said.
“The Oceanside Pier is an iconic and historic landmark that is part of our city’s identity,” Levin said in a statement to North County Pipeline. “It’s a setting for artists, fishermen, and sightseers to enjoy much of what our region has to offer. I have been in contact with the city, and they are currently working with their insurance provider to cover the cost of repairs.
“I have offered my assistance in helping them apply for federal grants, should they be necessary. I will continue to advocate for any resources they need to speed up the recovery process and ensure that we can restore the pier to its former glory.”
The city is also close to replacing the Pier View Way Bridge, which is the entrance to the pier, along with the lifeguard station, on the west end, she said. It’s a $40 million project and is currently in the second phase, which consists of developing the preliminary design plans and environmental reviews.
According to the city’s timeline, Phase 2 will be complete at the end of 2025 followed by the city obtaining permits and construction beginning in 2028.