1924 Ocean Park pier fire

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1924 Ocean Park pier fire
1924 Ocean Park pier fire aerial view from Clover Field plane.jpg
1924 Ocean Park pier fire aerial photograph taken from Clover Field plane
DateJanuary 6, 1924 (1924-01-06)
Coordinates 33°59′49″N118°28′58″E / 33.997°N 118.4827°E / 33.997; 118.4827

The 1924 Ocean Park fire destroyed several amusement piers and dance halls at Ocean Park, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The fire of Sunday, January 6, 1924, burned Pickering's Pier, Lick's Dome Pier, and Fraser's Pier, as well as the Dome Theater, Rosemary Theater, Bon Ton Dance Hall, and Giant Dipper roller coaster. [1] In addition to the piers, the fire destroyed an apartment building, two novelty shops, and a drugstore. [2] The fire, believed to have begun around 9:30 a.m. in a fish stand at the foot of Fraser's Pier, burned for about three hours before it was extinguished. [3] Two people had to be rescued after they jumped in the ocean to escape the blaze, [2] but there were no serious injuries. [4] The blaze drew an estimated 75,000 spectators from neighboring communities. [5]

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References

  1. Bell, W.E. (March 1924). "Fire Again Destroys Famous Ocean Park Playground But the California Spirit Prevails and Reconstruction Is Already Under Way". Santa Fe. Vol. XVIII, no. 4. Chicago: Railway Exchange. pp. 38–39.
  2. 1 2 "$3,500,000 Blaze Wipes Out Entire Amusement Zone". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. January 7, 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  3. "$4,000,000 Fire Guts Ocean Park Piers". Daily News. January 7, 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  4. "Begin Building at Ocean Park". The Los Angeles Times. January 8, 1924. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  5. "Off Shore Wind Saves Ocean Park". Evening Vanguard. January 7, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-16.