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| Eastbourne Pier fire: Firefighters save 'huge amount' | Eastbourne Pier fire: Firefighters save 'huge amount' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fire crews have saved a "huge amount" of Eastbourne Pier after fire ripped through the Victorian structure leaving only a metal skeleton. | Fire crews have saved a "huge amount" of Eastbourne Pier after fire ripped through the Victorian structure leaving only a metal skeleton. |
| The blaze broke out on Wednesday behind some wood panelling in the arcade building. | |
| Chief fire officer Des Pritchard said the outgoing tide and low water pressure hampered the crews but their hard work had "paid off". | Chief fire officer Des Pritchard said the outgoing tide and low water pressure hampered the crews but their hard work had "paid off". |
| Fire minister Penny Mordaunt is to visit the scene later. | Fire minister Penny Mordaunt is to visit the scene later. |
| 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 "there's a great deal that's still there". | Mr Pritchard, of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said "there's a great deal that's still there". |
| "Pier fires are notoriously difficult to fight because there is one way on and one way off - and the tide can caused additional problems," he said. | "Pier fires are notoriously difficult to fight because there is one way on and one way off - and the tide can caused additional problems," he said. |
| "The hard work of our firefighters has paid off in that we have been able to save a section of this iconic landmark but I know for the people of Eastbourne, this will still be devastating." | "The hard work of our firefighters has paid off in that we have been able to save a section of this iconic landmark but I know for the people of Eastbourne, this will still be devastating." |
| He thanked everyone who was involved in the operation. | He thanked everyone who was involved in the operation. |
| RNLI lifeboat crews helped reach the remaining hot spots during the night. About 20 firefighters are still damping down. | RNLI lifeboat crews helped reach the remaining hot spots during the night. About 20 firefighters are still damping down. |
| The arcade has been left a shell and a number of small buildings have been badly damaged, a fire service spokesman said. | The arcade has been left a shell and a number of small buildings 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. |
| 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. |
| Ms Mordaunt said she would be visiting Eastbourne "as a priority" to speak to local people and thank firefighters for their efforts. | Ms Mordaunt said she would be visiting Eastbourne "as a priority" to speak to local people and thank firefighters for their efforts. |
| "It is heart-breaking to see such a wonderful Victorian pier so damaged. Thankfully no-one appears to have been hurt," she said. | "It is heart-breaking to see such a wonderful Victorian pier so damaged. Thankfully no-one appears to have been hurt," she said. |
| 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 |