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September 2024

OCEANSIDE PIER UPDATE

Wheels are in motion behind the scenes after the west end Oceanside Pier blaze on April 25, 2024. Approximately 93 percent of the Pier reopened on May 10, and plans to rebuild the damaged section are being laid.

Fire Debris Removal

The heartbreaking chore of removing the burned area of the Pier will soon begin. The City has contracted with Jilk Heavy Construction, Inc. to remove the burned restaurant structures and deck planking at the far west end. This work will begin after the Labor Day holiday. The crews will use a crane and trucks to complete the job.

During the mobilzation and debris removal work, there may be short gaps of time when the Pier will be closed to move the heavy equipment. It's expected that during the bulk of this work, the Pier will remain open for the majority of the time.

Next Steps: Pier Piling Analysis

After the debris removal work, City engineers will be able to get a better look at the west end pilings below to test and analyze their condition. From there, a plan will emerge on rebuilding the damaged portion. It's likely that the original design plans can be reused for reconstructing the wooden west end of the Pier.  

Obtaining Permits to Rebuild

While it's the City's aim to rebuild the damaged section as soon as possible, the entire process from debris removal to reconstruction is expected to take a couple of years. The rebuild lag time will be due to the City awaiting the necessary permits from various regulatory agencies such as the California Coastal Commission and the State Water Resources Control Board. The City will be providing updates along the way on the website and through newsletters.

Fire Investigation

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took the lead in the Pier fire investigation. While no evidence was found of an intentional or incendiary act, they will soon release a formal report, which will become publically available at that time.

There are also several concurrent insurance investigations that are underway.

Engraved Names on Railings

In 1988, the name engravings on the Pier railings were done as a fundraiser for the City's 1988 centennial celebration. About 93 percent of the names along the Pier railings were saved. The archived records of all the engraved names and their locations were located by the City Clerk's Office. Replacing the damaged names will be the last step of rebuilding.

Due to the wind direction the day of the Pier fire, a small number of railings at the west end were untouched. If your family has a name engraved at the far west end of the Pier and would like to find out more, please inquire via email.

Stay Tuned

Regular updates on the Pier effort will be provided in the City's newsletter, The Oceanside Tide and on the City website. Sign up for City news

Oceanside Thanks Regional Responders

In grateful appreciation of the many regional partners that aided in extinguishing the Pier fire, the City of Oceanside held a special recognition lunch in June at the Pier Amphitheater. View a KOCT recap video below...