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| Eastbourne Pier fire: Firefighters save two thirds of structure | Eastbourne Pier fire: Firefighters save two thirds of structure |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fire crews have saved two thirds of Eastbourne Pier after fire destroyed part of the structure, leaving a metal skeleton. | Fire crews have saved two thirds of Eastbourne Pier after fire destroyed part of the structure, leaving a metal skeleton. |
| The blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon behind some wood panelling in the arcade building. | The blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon behind some wood panelling in the arcade building. |
| Chief fire officer Des Pritchard said the outgoing tide and low water pressure had hampered crews but their hard work had "paid off". | Chief fire officer Des Pritchard said the outgoing tide and low water pressure had hampered crews but their hard work had "paid off". |
| Fire minister Penny Mordaunt is to visit the pier "as a priority". | |
| Ms Mordaunt said she would be visiting Eastbourne to speak to local people and thank firefighters for their efforts. | |
| No-one was injured and the fire is not being treated as suspicious. | No-one was injured and the fire is not being treated as suspicious. |
| Mr Pritchard, of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Pier fires are very difficult to fight because there's only one way on to the pier from the land side. | Mr Pritchard, of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Pier fires are very difficult to fight because there's only one way on to the pier from the land side. |
| "Our crews worked tremendously well and whilst some of the pictures in the media show what might be a scene of devastation, our crews managed to save two thirds of the pier." | "Our crews worked tremendously well and whilst some of the pictures in the media show what might be a scene of devastation, our crews managed to save two thirds of the pier." |
| He said most of the hotspots had been extinguished overnight, with RNLI lifeboat crews assisting. | He said most of the hotspots had been extinguished overnight, with RNLI lifeboat crews assisting. |
| BBC Sussex reporter Simon Jenkins | BBC Sussex reporter Simon Jenkins |
| Looking towards the pier, if you start on the outer pavilion that's absolutely fine. | Looking towards the pier, if you start on the outer pavilion that's absolutely fine. |
| You move back along it and then you come to effectively a skeleton of steel and twisted iron. | You move back along it and then you come to effectively a skeleton of steel and twisted iron. |
| It's a blackened hulk of twisted metal. | It's a blackened hulk of twisted metal. |
| People are shocked, people are concerned and they're coming down to check if the rest of it is still here. | People are shocked, people are concerned and they're coming down to check if the rest of it is still here. |
| The arcade has been left a shell and a number of small buildings at the Victorian structure have been badly damaged, a fire service spokesman said. | The arcade has been left a shell and a number of small buildings at the Victorian structure have been badly damaged, a fire service spokesman said. |
| An investigation into the cause of the blaze is under way. | An investigation into the cause of the blaze is under way. |
| Kay Healy, who works at the History Bear Collection on the pier, said the attraction was very busy when fire alarm went off. | Kay Healy, who works at the History Bear Collection on the pier, said the attraction was very busy when fire alarm went off. |
| "When we walked towards the front of the pier there was smoke coming out of the arcade," she said. | "When we walked towards the front of the pier there was smoke coming out of the arcade," she said. |
| "The pier was packed...it took five minutes to get people off. | "The pier was packed...it took five minutes to get people off. |
| "There was no panic - no-one running, just walking." | "There was no panic - no-one running, just walking." |
| She said it took at least 30 minutes for the bystanders to see the flames. | She said it took at least 30 minutes for the bystanders to see the flames. |
| "Then when we went to the other side of the pier, we realised how serious it was," Ms Healy said. | "Then when we went to the other side of the pier, we realised how serious it was," Ms Healy said. |
| "The fire crew was trying to smash the roof in to get the hoses in and then all of a sudden the flames came from everywhere. It was horrendous." | "The fire crew was trying to smash the roof in to get the hoses in and then all of a sudden the flames came from everywhere. It was horrendous." |
| Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd said: "The good news is that we don't have a Brighton or Hastings scenario where the whole pier is destroyed." | Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd said: "The good news is that we don't have a Brighton or Hastings scenario where the whole pier is destroyed." |
| Mr Lloyd is due to meet the pier's owners and local councillors later to discuss the blaze and its aftermath. | Mr Lloyd is due to meet the pier's owners and local councillors later to discuss the blaze and its aftermath. |
| Eastbourne Borough Council leader David Tutt said he was hopeful the pier could be repaired, and he understood the fire had been started by an electrical fault. | Eastbourne Borough Council leader David Tutt said he was hopeful the pier could be repaired, and he understood the fire had been started by an electrical fault. |
| Pier fires | Pier fires |