A fire broke out at the Malibu Pier around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday after a cigarette became stuck between two planks on the far end of the pier, Fire Battalion Chief Bob Haskell said. Twenty planks were damaged, according to Haskell. Initial reports indicated the fire had been caused by an electrical wire.Â
Pier co-concessionaire Jefferson Wagner said this was the third time a fire had broken out due to a cigarette being dropped between planks on the west side of the pier. Wagner estimated Wednesday’s fire caused $20,000 in damage.
The fire was put out in just five minutes, Haskell said.Â
The pier was immediately evacuated but has since been reopened. As of 2:45 p.m., emergency vehicles were still blocking the far end of the pier. Eastbound traffic on Pacific Coast Highway was slowed due to the number ofemergency vehicles parked along the highway.
The fire broke out next to a space where a new restaurant called the Malibu Farm was set to open in the coming days.Â