SEAL BEACH : Pier May Reopen by July 4th Weekend

City officials say the fire-damaged Seal Beach Pier probably will reopen by the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

A first phase of repairs to the historic wood boardwalk is progressing smoothly and is in its final stages, said Mayor George Brown.

The city plans to reopen the pier through the busy summer tourist season. Then in the fall, the boardwalk will be closed again for a second and final set of fixes.

The pier’s middle section was damaged in a May 21 fire that briefly trapped more than 100 people at the end of the boardwalk. No one was injured. Fire officials believe the blaze was caused when coals from a barbecue grill dropped under the pier and ignited a gas line.

Workers have been replacing burned wood pilings with new lumber for several weeks. City Manager Jerry Bankston said the pier should be open to the public by Saturday.

The city is also working to cover the gas line that runs the length of the pier with a galvanized steel casing in an effort to prevent future fires. A shut-off valve that could quickly halt gas flow to the pier in the event of a mishap will also be installed, Bankston said.

The blazed caused more than $300,000 damage. The costs will be covered by insurance, but the city must pay a $100,000 deductible--as it did in 1992, when another fire struck the pier.