You're standing on the edge of the Pacific, the smell of salt air mixing with the sweet, heavy scent of funnel cakes. The wood planks of the Santa Monica Pier creak under your feet. It feels permanent. It feels like it’s been there forever, surviving the salt, the waves, and the tourists. But if you've spent any time looking into California history, you might have heard a rumor or seen a grainy photo that made you wonder: did the Santa Monica Pier burn?
The short answer? Parts of it did. More than once.
But it’s never been a total wipeout. Not like the nearby Pacific Ocean Park or some of the other "pleasure piers" that used to dot the Southern California coastline before they were swallowed by flames or the sea. The story of Santa Monica's survival is actually a weird mix of luck, aggressive fire departments, and a community that flat-out refused to let the city’s crown jewel disappear.
The night the clouds turned orange
If you want to talk about the most terrifying moment in the pier’s history, you have to go back to the summer of 1970. Specifically, July 13th.
It was a Monday. Around 9:30 PM, a fire broke out near the western end of the pier. Back then, things were a bit different. The pier wasn't the polished, high-security tourist magnet it is today. It was a bit grittier. The fire started under the deck, which is basically the worst-case scenario for a wooden structure sitting over the ocean.
Why? Because the pier is essentially a giant stack of kindling treated with flammable creosote, sitting on top of a wind tunnel.
The 1970 fire was huge. Honestly, looking at the old news footage, it’s a miracle the whole thing didn't go up. Over 100 firefighters from Santa Monica and Los Angeles converged on the beach. They had to fight the flames from the top, from the sand below, and even from fireboats in the water. The fire destroyed a massive chunk of the "Newcomb Pier" section—that's the lower, older part of the pier. By the time they knocked it down, about 25% of the pier's total surface area was charred ruins.
The damage was estimated at over $100,000 in 1970 dollars. That sounds like a bargain now, but back then, it was a catastrophe.
Wait, what about the 1800s?
People often get confused because Santa Monica has actually had several piers. The one we walk on today is actually two piers joined together. There was the Municipal Pier (built in 1909) and the Newcomb Pier (built in 1916).
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Before these, there were several "wharves."
The Long Wharf, built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1893, was nearly a mile long. It was the "longest wharf in the world" for a minute. While it didn't suffer one single catastrophic fire that ended its life, it was slowly dismantled as the Port of Los Angeles moved to San Pedro. However, smaller fires were common on these old wooden structures. A dropped cigarette, a kitchen accident in a bait shop, or an electrical short—wooden piers are basically just waiting for a reason to burn.
The 2012 scare and the reality of modern fire safety
More recently, people started asking did the Santa Monica Pier burn because of a scary incident in 2012.
If you were in Santa Monica on the evening of June 25, 2012, you probably saw the smoke. A fire started in an enclosure that housed electrical transformers. It was located right under the pier near the Pacific Park amusement area. Because it was electrical and involved oil from the transformers, the smoke was thick, black, and visible from miles away.
The pier was evacuated. Thousands of people were ushered off the wood planks as sirens wailed. It felt like "The Big One" was finally happening.
But the Santa Monica Fire Department is basically the Navy SEALs of pier protection. They got there fast. They used thermal imaging to find hotspots under the decking. They managed to contain the fire to the electrical vault area. No one was hurt, and the rides weren't damaged, but it served as a massive wake-up call. It reminded everyone that this landmark is fragile.
Why piers are so hard to keep from burning
Have you ever tried to light a big log with a match? It’s hard, right? But if you shave that log into splinters and give it plenty of oxygen, it roars.
A pier is a giant grid of heavy timber. It’s built to withstand the physical beating of the ocean, but fire is its kryptonite. There are a few reasons why a pier fire is a nightmare for firefighters:
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- The Chimney Effect: The space between the water and the deck acts like a chimney. Wind whips through there, feeding oxygen to any flame.
- Creosote: Most of those old pilings were soaked in creosote to prevent rot. Creosote is basically fossil fuel. Once it catches, it burns hot and long.
- Accessibility: How do you get a 30-ton fire truck onto a wooden structure that might be structuraly compromised by fire? You can't. You have to drag hoses hundreds of feet or fight it from boats.
- The "Under-Deck" Problem: Most pier fires start underneath where people drop things or where old wiring sits. It’s dark, cramped, and dangerous for firefighters to crawl under there during a blaze.
The battle for the pier’s soul
The fires weren't the only thing trying to kill the pier. In the 1970s, after that big fire, the Santa Monica City Council actually wanted to tear the whole thing down.
Seriously.
They wanted to build a man-made island with a high-rise hotel. They figured the pier was a fire hazard and a money pit. The only reason we still have a pier to ask about today is because the citizens of Santa Monica revolted. They formed the "Save the Square" committee (referring to the pier's shape) and fought the city until the demolition plan was scrapped.
In 1975, the city finally designated the pier as a historic landmark. That was the turning point. It went from a "dilapidated fire trap" to a "protected treasure."
Disasters that weren't fire
While fire is the most dramatic threat, the ocean has actually done more structural damage over the years. In 1983, a massive El Niño storm hit the coast. Massive waves—we’re talking 20-footers—smashed into the pier.
It wasn't a fire, but it looked like a war zone.
The waves ripped away about one-third of the pier. The "lower deck" was basically deleted from the map. It took years to rebuild. If you go to the pier today and notice that some sections look newer or have different railing styles, you're looking at the scars of 1983.
What it looks like today
If you visit now, you’ll see fire hydrants everywhere. There are modern sprinkler systems tucked under the floorboards. The city conducts regular inspections of the electrical systems of every tenant, from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to the small kiosks selling sunglasses.
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Is it fireproof? No. Nothing made of wood is.
But is it safer than it was in 1970? Absolutely. The 2012 incident proved that the response time is now measured in seconds, not minutes. The pier is also much more "managed" now. There’s less junk piled up under the decks, and the structural timbers are regularly replaced or reinforced with non-flammable materials where possible.
Real-world takeaways for your visit
If you’re heading down to the pier and want to see the history for yourself, keep your eyes open for these details:
- The Junction: Look at where the concrete ramp from Colorado Avenue meets the wooden pier. This is where the "two piers" join.
- The Pilings: Look down through the cracks or from the sand. You'll see a mix of old wooden pilings and newer steel or concrete-jacketed ones. The newer ones are there because they don't burn or rot.
- The Carousel Building: This is the "Looff Hippodrome." It’s a National Historic Landmark. It has survived every fire, every storm, and every demolition attempt since 1916. It is the heart of the pier.
Summary of the "Did it Burn?" question
So, to wrap it up: No, the Santa Monica Pier did not burn down in its entirety. It has suffered several significant fires, most notably in 1970 and a smaller but scary electrical fire in 2012. It also survived a near-death experience with a city council that wanted to bulldoze it, and a literal beating from the Pacific Ocean in 1983.
It’s a survivor.
The next time you’re walking over those planks, just remember that every foot of that wood has been fought for. It’s not just a place to ride a Ferris wheel; it’s a piece of California that refused to die, whether by flame or by tide.
Actionable steps for history buffs
If you want to see the "burnt" history yourself, here is what you should do:
- Visit the Santa Monica History Museum: They have the actual photographs from the 1970 blaze. Seeing the pier engulfed in smoke puts the current structure into perspective.
- Walk the West End: Go all the way to the end where the fishing balconies are. This is the area that has been rebuilt the most. Notice how the wood feels different underfoot compared to the area near the Carousel.
- Check the tide charts: Go at low tide. Walk under the pier (staying in the legal pedestrian areas). Seeing the massive scale of the timber structure from below makes you realize why the 1970 fire was such a nightmare to fight.
- Support the local shops: The pier survives because it’s a living business ecosystem. Buying a coffee or a ticket for the Pacific Wheel helps fund the constant maintenance (and fire prevention) required to keep the wood from rotting or burning.
The pier isn't just a tourist trap. It's a miracle of engineering and community stubbornness. It stays standing because people decided it was worth the risk of it burning. And so far, they’ve been right.