The sad end of the pier
A DEEP-FAT fryer was last night being blamed for starting the blaze which destroyed the historic Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare.
The end of the 104-year-old pier was engulfed within minutes of the fire breaking out at around 6.30am yesterday.[>
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More than 80 firemen fought the blaze but were powerless to stop the flames, which tore through the wooden buildings creating a plume of smoke visible 50 miles away.[>
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The pavilion at the end of the one- and-a-quarter-mile pier was reduced to a smouldering wreck just months after the owners had spent £1million lavishly overhauling the attraction.[>
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No one was hurt in the blaze and firefighters praised a workman who bravely removed gas canisters which could have exploded.[>
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The fire started in a staff canteen area in the west tower at the front of the Grade II-listed pier.[>
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Avon’s Chief Fire Officer Kevin Pearson said: “Early witnesses think the fire started from a deep-fat frier.”[>
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As the blaze started to take hold, some LPG gas cylinders exploded.[>
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But senior engineer Robert Tinker, 60, helped firefighters to remove other canisters shortly after he arrived at 7am yesterday.[>
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He said: “When I got there it was just a small fire in the north-east tower. I led the firefighters around to the other side of the building. I just wanted to throw the canisters over the edge but the fireman said they could break.”[>
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He added: “The firemen were pretty grateful because if they had caught fire, there would have been an almighty explosion.”[>
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The Grand Pier was sold for £10million in February to brother and sister partnership Kerry and Michelle Michael.[>
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The pair were said to be devastated last night. A spokesman for Mr Michael, who is also managing director of Weston-based insurance firm Regency and owns several hotels in the resort, said he was cutting short a holiday in Spain to fly home.[>
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He said: “He is absolutely devastated. His whole plan was to turn this into a premier tourist attraction.”[>
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The Michaels had already installed a new bar, funfair and go-kart track.[>
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Just a week ago they opened a 40ft-high indoor climbing wall and hoped to begin hosting weddings next year.[>
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They also planned to open restaurants and offer Victorian-style shows.[>
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Westons’ Mayor Andrew Horler said the blaze had stopped the “heartbeat” of the town.[>
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He said: “It’s a real blow. It’s an iconic, beautiful building. The Grand Pier is in every single shot of Weston.”[>
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Fire has ravaged Britain’s most famous piers. Southend’s, the world’s longest, has blazed five times in its 110 years, most recently in 2005.[>
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Brighton’s West Pier went up in flames in 2003 in a blaze which broke out in its concert hall.[>
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In May 2002, more than £1.5 million of damage was caused to Hunstanton pier in Norfolk.[>