West Pier Fire

If the collapse of the ballroom, and the fire on the Palace Pier wasn't enough, the pavilion of the West Pier caught fire. Not a good year for piers in Brighton.

We first heard the news from the BNM mailing list, and Duncan and I drove from the office to take a look meeting Richard at the beach. The photos in this album, with exception of the night time shots, were taken in about an hour which should give some indication on quite how fast the destruction happened.

The West Pier Trust say this will not affect the restoration of the pier as the structure would have needed to be cleared anyway. The fire is thought to have been the work of arsonists.

(22 images.)

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First sight
First sight
It's taken hold
It's taken hold
Thick smoke
Thick smoke
West Pier sign
West Pier sign
First tower alight
First tower alight
Flames and smoke
Flames and smoke
First tower goes
First tower goes
Close up
Close up
Structure
Structure
Action film
Action film
Firemen
Firemen
Watching
Watching
Firemen
Firemen
Second tower collapses
Second tower collapses
Cameraman
Cameraman
Not much left
Not much left
West Pier sign gone
West Pier sign gone
Fire engine arrives
Fire engine arrives
Coastguard helicopter
Coastguard helicopter
Shell
Shell
At night
At night
Dark night
Dark night

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