Blaze Burns Down Closed Ruby's Diner On Seal Beach Pier
SEAL BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Firefighters battled a second-alarm blaze Friday at a shuttered Ruby's Diner at the end of Seal Beach pier.
The fire was first reported at 7:35 a.m. at the chain's original restaurant, which closed in 2013.
Several firefighting boats, along with 70 firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority and the Long Beach Fire Department, were deployed to help battle the flames.
The fire, which erupted at the end of the approximately 2,000-foot-long pier, sent up billowing, black smoke that could be seen at a lengthy distance. The blaze was mostly controlled within 90 minutes, but a sea breeze continues to make it smolder and flare into the afternoon, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
A firefighter was injured when a blast of water from one of the boats dislocated his shoulder. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, Concialdi said.
A water pipe under the pier failed during the fighting, making it more difficult to attack the flames, he said.
It's not clear if the fire started in the building or on the pier itself and it is under investigation. The pier remains stable, but was closed for inspection by structural engineers.