The Victorian pier in the southern English seaside resort of Eastbourne is an icon. Now there is a big part only as a skeleton – in spite of a large use of the fire department.

A pier from the 19th century has dawned in southern England Eastbourne in flames. Injured there, according to the police no; The listed pier was evacuated in time. Tourists and residents of the city watched in horror as black smoke rose up clouds of one of the main attractions of the coastal city. They were visible for miles. Wind fueled the fire further.

The pier was built in 1870 on wooden stilts. She served several times as a film set. It includes numerous cafes, restaurants, bars and a nightclub.
The fire had probably spread from the wood paneling of the building on the pier, shared with Fire and Rescue Service the county of East Sussex. About 80 firefighters fought against the flames, sometimes on boats from the water.

Residents gathered at the beach and on the boardwalk. “I’m really sad, I could cry,” said the 46-year-old Debbie Leach. Sam Taylor, who makes a tourist just in Eastbourne holiday, said: “I can not believe it I’m here to for years, and now I see how it goes up in smoke, while I’m here This is terrible…”

The fact that the fire broke out just in the economically important summer season, many prepares additional worries. In two weeks, the Airbourne airshow takes place in the small seaside town, the most important event for tourism. “I hope and pray that our wonderful pier is not lost forever,” said London MPs from the region, Stephen Lloyd.

English piers always fall victim to fires. 2003 burning of the 148-year-old West Pier in Brighton completely off because he caught twice within two months of the fire. In 2005, the longest pleasure pier Essex in the world was heavily damaged in a fire. In 2008 and 2010 burned piers.