Seal Beach Pier fire: leaders declare local emergency as damaged is assessed

SEAL BEACH >> The City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution proclaiming a local emergency after Friday’s fire that destroyed Ruby’s Diner at the end of the Seal Beach Pier.

The move will allow the city to expedite permitting and bidding procedures to repair the damage to the pier, officials said.

Orange County Fire Authority officials also told local elected officials and the public about their successful effort – with the assistance of other agencies – in snuffing out fire on the pier in under two hours.

“We were able to keep the fire isolated to the end of the pier,” said Battalion Chief Ken Cruz.

Ruby’s Diner had been boarded up and its location – at the final 100 feet of the pier – fenced off since 2013.

Cruz said the cause of the fire and the extent of damage to the pier are under investigation.

He credited the firefighters’ quick response to plaing for such an event.

“Unfortunately, we had to put our plan into effect,” he said. “But it could have been a much worse tragedy. That dry lumber just took off.”

Cruz said the firefighters dealt with strong northweste winds.

“All the smoke blew right in their faces,” he said. “There was zero visibility.”

The entire pier remains off limits to the public.