 "Ruins of the Ocean Park Pier fire" (Los Angeles Times, December 28, 1915) | |
| Date | December 27, 1915 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°59′49″N 118°28′58″E / 33.997°N 118.4827°E |
The 1915 Ocean Park pier fire broke out about 1 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 1915, during the pier's mid-winter festival event in Ocean Park, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The fire destroyed about a third of Fraser's pier, including the dance hall, much of the Ben Hur roller coaster, a concession building, and part of the scenic railway on the north side of the pier. [1] [2] The explosion of a 100 U.S. gal (380 L; 83 imp gal) gasoline tank on the pier contributed to the destruction. [3]
Concessions damaged or destroyed included Paris by Night, [2] the Bollinger Baby Little Elizabeth, [2] small Japanese-owned shops, [2] a bowling alley, [2] Esquimaux [Eskimo] Village, [2] Puzzletown, [2] Arabian Village, [2] candy shop, [4] a palm-reader's room, [4] cigar store, [4] and a "midget village." [4] The Davis soda fountain within the dance hall was also a total loss. [5] The Breakers Café was saved. [2]
The fire was likely started by an incompletely extinguished cigarette igniting the dance hall, [6] or possibly faulty wiring. [4] Among the people rescued by firefighters was an "Eskimo babe" who lived in an Eskimo village attraction on the pier. [2] The Eskimo village usually had huskies on exhibit but they were not present at the time of the fire because they were being used on a film shoot in the mountains. [5] There were eight monkeys or apes living on the pier at the time of the fire; they were released to fend for themselves when the fire broke out. [5] Five monkeys were recovered by the following day. [5]
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See also
References
- ^ "The Ocean Park Pier Damaged by Fire". Evening Vanguard. December 27, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Beach Resort Town Once More Visited by Disastrous Fire". Press-Telegram. December 27, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ Goodman, Jeff (December 28, 2015). "December 1915: Flames engulf Ocean Park pier (Santa Monica history)". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ a b c d e "Dances in Ashes of $175,000 Blaze". The Bulletin. December 28, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ a b c d "Fire the Toll of Cigarette?". The Los Angeles Times. December 28, 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ "Ocean Park Pier Burns". Evening Vanguard. December 27, 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
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