Diners Trapped as Small Fire Burns Hole in Seal Beach Pier
- Share via
A small fire probably caused by a discarded cigarette trapped dozens of restaurant patrons Saturday night on the Seal Beach Pier as flames burned a 4-foot-by-4-foot hole through the floor of the wooden structure, authorities said.
Customers at the Ruby’s restaurant at the end of the pier waited for more than half an hour as a fireboat and firefighters on land brought the small blaze under control.
Authorities were alerted to flames in the middle of the pier about 6:40 p.m. and dispatched about 30 firefighters, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Paul Hunter. Investigators determined that the blaze was caused by a hot object, probably a cigarette, Hunter said.
In 1992, a fire sparked by wires in a lifeguard tower burned the middle of the pier, and the same area burned again in 1994, temporarily closing part of the structure.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
