Southend councillor praises staff's actions after Pier fire

Yesterday evening, clouds of smoke could be seen billowing from the end of Southend Pier amid reports of a “small fire” at one of its huts.

A video recorded by a visitor at the attraction showed the smoke coming from the beach hut at the end of the 1.3-mile structure.

In the footage, a man could be seen rushing to the hut with what appeared to be a fire extinguisher in his hand before he worked to put the blaze out.

Shock - Smoke coming from the hut on Southend Pier (Image: Lee Jay)

Matt Dent, Labour councillor responsible for business, culture, and tourism, has since praised the "quick actions" of pier staff, which resulted in no major damage to the landmark.

He said: "Yesterday evening, there was a small fire inside one of the beach huts at the end of Southend Pier and Railway.

"Thanks to the quick actions of our Pier staff this was extinguished very quickly.

"Fire service colleagues were called as a precaution and to inspect the area. They confirmed the fire was fully out.

"We will be looking into the cause of this small fire in due course.

"But, no major or lasting damage appears to have been done to the Pier, which will be open as usual today.

"My thanks goes to everyone involved in dealing with this so quickly."

The iconic Southend Pier has a history marked by several significant fires, which have had a considerable impact.

The first major fire at the Southend Pier occurred on October 8, 1959.

This fire caused extensive damage, particularly to the pavilion and theatre at the pier's seaward end. It was a devastating event, which led to significant reconstruction efforts.

In 1976, another severe fire broke out on June 29, once again at the pier's end while hundreds of shocked visitors were forced to flee the scene.

Devastating - The flames from Southend Pier in 1976 (Image: Newsquest)

This blaze destroyed a large portion of the pavilion and amusement areas. The incident was another major setback for the pier, which had to undergo considerable repairs and rebuilding afterwards.

Almost 20 years later, a third major fire hit Southend Pier on June 7, 1995.

It destroyed the bowling alley and caused severe damage to other structures.

According to the Essex Fire and Rescue Service, around £1.4 million damage was caused in today's money.

Perhaps the most notable recent fire then occurred on October 9, in 2005.

This fire destroyed the old wooden flooring and caused significant structural damage, particularly to the pier's far end.

The blaze also resulted in the loss of a train that ran along the pier. This fire sparked widespread concern over the future of the historic structure.

Nevertheless, each time, the Pier has been rebuilt after extensive restoration and financial investment, and despite these challenges, it remains a cherished tourist attraction.