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| Eastbourne Pier fire: Blaze at Victorian attraction believed to have started in games arcade panelling | Eastbourne Pier fire: Blaze at Victorian attraction believed to have started in games arcade panelling |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fire broken out at a pier in the East Sussex seaside town of Eastbourne on Wednesday afternoon. | A fire broken out at a pier in the East Sussex seaside town of Eastbourne on Wednesday afternoon. |
| Thick black smoke was seen rising from the roof of a two-storey building on Eastbourne Pier on Wednesday evening, as around 60 firefighters - including personnel from neighbouring towns - tackled the blaze. | Thick black smoke was seen rising from the roof of a two-storey building on Eastbourne Pier on Wednesday evening, as around 60 firefighters - including personnel from neighbouring towns - tackled the blaze. |
| East Sussex Fire and Rescue Services believe the fire started in a wall panel of a games arcade at the Victorian attraction, located 50m from the shoreline. They were called to the scene at 3:13pm on Wednesday. | East Sussex Fire and Rescue Services believe the fire started in a wall panel of a games arcade at the Victorian attraction, located 50m from the shoreline. They were called to the scene at 3:13pm on Wednesday. |
| Firefighters were joined at the pier by police officers, coastguards, and lifeboat crews, where people had been evacuated. There have been no reports of injuries. | |
| The fire services confirmed on their website that the building measuring around 30m by 50m was "well alight". | The fire services confirmed on their website that the building measuring around 30m by 50m was "well alight". |
| "Due to the nature of the building involved, a number of crews have been sent to the scene, including those from Eastbourne, Uckfield, Pevensey and Hailsham." | "Due to the nature of the building involved, a number of crews have been sent to the scene, including those from Eastbourne, Uckfield, Pevensey and Hailsham." |
| The incident is ongoing, the fire service added. | The incident is ongoing, the fire service added. |
| A spokesman for the RNLI said volunteer crew members from Eastbourne, Hastings and Newhaven had been helping firefighters put out the blaze from around 4pm. | A spokesman for the RNLI said volunteer crew members from Eastbourne, Hastings and Newhaven had been helping firefighters put out the blaze from around 4pm. |
| Onlookers at the popular seaside town tweeted photos of the blaze, and posted videos showing black plumes of smoke rising from the pier on social media app Vine. | Onlookers at the popular seaside town tweeted photos of the blaze, and posted videos showing black plumes of smoke rising from the pier on social media app Vine. |
| Vine from scene RT @meeware: Lifeboat on hand at Eastbourne pier fire https://t.co/U6hoNcpHJr | Vine from scene RT @meeware: Lifeboat on hand at Eastbourne pier fire https://t.co/U6hoNcpHJr |
| Earlier this month, officials warned smokers to be cautious on the monument, after a cigarette butt sparked a fire underneath its decking, according to the Eastbourne Herald. | Earlier this month, officials warned smokers to be cautious on the monument, after a cigarette butt sparked a fire underneath its decking, according to the Eastbourne Herald. |
| Eastbourne Borough Council described the fire as "tragic" and called the pier a "much loved landmark". | Eastbourne Borough Council described the fire as "tragic" and called the pier a "much loved landmark". |
| Carolyn Heaps, cabinet member for tourism at the council, said: "Our first concern is for the safety of all those who work on the pier and those who were visiting the pier today. It is tragic to see this much loved Victorian landmark on fire. | Carolyn Heaps, cabinet member for tourism at the council, said: "Our first concern is for the safety of all those who work on the pier and those who were visiting the pier today. It is tragic to see this much loved Victorian landmark on fire. |
| "The council is supporting the emergency services as they tackle the fire and in keeping the area around the pier safe. We will be liaising with the owners of the pier, Cuerden Leisure," she added. | "The council is supporting the emergency services as they tackle the fire and in keeping the area around the pier safe. We will be liaising with the owners of the pier, Cuerden Leisure," she added. |
| Since it opened in 1870, the pier has helped to make the seaside town a popular resort. Over 4.8 million people visit the town each year, contributing £336million to the economy, according to the council. | |
| The blaze is believed to have started in wall panelling (PA) On its website, Eastbourne Pier is described as a "wonderful place", "the perfect day out" and "one of the most popular attractions in the UK". | The blaze is believed to have started in wall panelling (PA) On its website, Eastbourne Pier is described as a "wonderful place", "the perfect day out" and "one of the most popular attractions in the UK". |
| It says it caters for all age groups and features an amusement arcade called Funtasia, the Waterfront Cafe Bar and Victorian tea rooms. The pier is also home to the Atlantis nightclub. | It says it caters for all age groups and features an amusement arcade called Funtasia, the Waterfront Cafe Bar and Victorian tea rooms. The pier is also home to the Atlantis nightclub. |
| The vast amounts of wood used to construct piers makes them prone to fires. Southend Pier in Essex caught on fire for the fourth time in 50 years in October 2005 - destroying a pub, restaurant, fish and chip shop as well as an arcade and train station. | The vast amounts of wood used to construct piers makes them prone to fires. Southend Pier in Essex caught on fire for the fourth time in 50 years in October 2005 - destroying a pub, restaurant, fish and chip shop as well as an arcade and train station. |
| In March 2003, the largely derelict West Pier in Brighton was gutted by a blaze, leaving only its metal structure standing, while in May 2002 more than £1.5million worth of damaged was caused to a pier in Hunstanton, Norfolk, when it was engulfed in flames. | In March 2003, the largely derelict West Pier in Brighton was gutted by a blaze, leaving only its metal structure standing, while in May 2002 more than £1.5million worth of damaged was caused to a pier in Hunstanton, Norfolk, when it was engulfed in flames. |
| Tim Wardley, chairman of the National Piers Society, said: "When you have something that is made of wood, the risk of fire is always going to be sadly that much greater. | Tim Wardley, chairman of the National Piers Society, said: "When you have something that is made of wood, the risk of fire is always going to be sadly that much greater. |
| "Piers are at risk of being chopped in half by an errant boat, or suffering fire damage - they are constantly under onslaught from mother nature. That's a testament to the 61 which survive proudly after withstanding that onslaught over the last two centuries." | "Piers are at risk of being chopped in half by an errant boat, or suffering fire damage - they are constantly under onslaught from mother nature. That's a testament to the 61 which survive proudly after withstanding that onslaught over the last two centuries." |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |