By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA—On Wednesday, Oceanside city leaders held a special recognition luncheon at the Pier Amphitheater to honor first responders and regional partners who played a crucial role in extinguishing the Pier fire on April 25.
Thanks to their coordinated efforts, there were no injuries, and 93 percent of the city’s beloved Pier was saved from destruction.
The event was attended by the Oceanside city council, city manager, fire chief, and other local officials.
Special recognition was given to Manson Construction, who was working on the Oceanside Harbor dredge nearby. They quickly rushed to the scene and deployed their powerful water pump from the water to aid in firefighting efforts.
The city also expressed gratitude to SDG&E for their air helitanker support and San Diego County’s ASTREA unit for arriving promptly to help battle the massive fire. Numerous regional partners were lauded for their actions that day, including the fire departments of Carlsbad, Vista, and San Marcos; Calfire; the California Office of Emergency Services; Camp Pendleton; San Diego Hazmat; the U.S. Coast Guard Sea Otter Cutter; and the San Diego Harbor Police and Lifeguard boats.
“We are forever indebted to the courageous people who helped save our iconic Pier,” said Mayor Esther Sanchez. “Their service and regional cooperation in our time of need preserved this community treasure for generations to come.”
With many Oceanside firefighters deployed to the Pier blaze, other regional agencies provided vital mutual aid by manning Oceanside Fire Stations and responding to calls, a force-multiplying partnership facilitated by the North County Dispatch JPA.
“Mutual aid agreements allow us to share resources and personnel, ultimately protecting our neighboring communities during major incidents,” noted Fire Chief David Parsons. “We give our sincerest thanks to every agency that answered the call.”
On May 10, the city reopened 80 percent of the Pier, now open daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. The city’s engineering division is obtaining permits from various regulatory agencies to perform the demolition and repair of the damaged section. Debris removal is expected to begin in August. Regular progress updates will be provided on the city’s website and through newsletters.
