After an intense firefighting battle throughout the night, dozens of fire crews persisted on Friday to combat a massive fire that engulfed the end of Oceanside Pier in California. The fire, which resulted in a thick plume of dark smoke rising over the North County coastal city, was still smoldering as crews worked tirelessly to hose down the pier.

As of Friday morning, four firefighting boats and two rescue boats were deployed in the water, pouring water onto the affected areas. Despite their efforts, Oceanside Fire Chief David Parsons stated that the fire could not yet be declared fully under control, although they were close to achieving that milestone. A fire deputy chief monitored the situation from a helicopter, gathering critical information on the status of the fire. In addition, drones were utilized to provide a visual assessment underneath the pier.

Arson investigators were present at the scene, and no potential causes had been ruled out. According to Parsons, the origin of the fire appeared to be at the old Ruby's location, where a new vendor was engaged in renovation work to open a new restaurant.

During the course of the night, firefighters made the decision to let the fire burn in certain hard-to-reach areas, temporarily halting water application. This led to intermittent flames at certain points until a roof collapse occurred in the restaurant building. Fortunately, there was no further damage to the pier itself, with 90% of the structure estimated to be unharmed.

One concern for officials was a sewage tank suspended underneath the pier's deck. However, as of Friday morning, it was reported that the tank remained unscathed, avoiding any potential spillage. To ensure safety, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a 500-yard safety zone around the pier and beach, prohibiting anyone from entering the area.

The fire had initially been reported shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday at the site of the former Ruby's Diner, which has been vacant for the past three years. Nearby businesses, including the Brine Box, were evacuated. Some individuals gathered to witness the blaze, even taking selfies with the historic structure aflame in the background.

Efforts to combat the fire received support from multiple agencies, including fire-fighting boats equipped with water cannons, a joint helicopter operation by Cal Fire and the San Diego Sheriff's Department, and the deployment of San Diego Fire Rescue's new Triton firefighting vessel. Additional ground crews from Carlsbad, Vista, North County Fire, and Camp Pendleton were mobilized to assist in extinguishing the fire.

Due to onshore winds carrying smoke and ash towards the coastline, businesses and restaurants near the pier, such as the Famous High Pie at the Top Gun House, remained closed.

Fire Chief David Parsons confirmed that lifeguards were the first to report the incident, with firefighters arriving promptly. Parsons announced that the main part of the fire had been successfully suppressed, with ongoing efforts focused on controlling the remaining deck fire.

Throughout the night, crews continued to battle the active fire on the restaurant building and the pier, even removing sections of the pier and creating a trench to prevent the fire from spreading further eastward.

The Emergency Operation Center in Oceanside, operating at Level 3, coordinated efforts with other agencies, including San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguards and Harbor Patrol.

Oceanside had invested $5.5 million to upgrade the pier last year, addressing aging infrastructure, including pipes and electrical systems. While the wooden structure has faced destruction in the past, including incidents in 1890 and 1902, the current pier was built in 1987.

As of now, there have been no reports of injuries, and all employees have been accounted for. Investigators are at the scene, working diligently to determine the cause of the fire.

Updates on the situation will be provided as more information becomes available, urging readers to refresh the page for the latest developments.