Sprinklers would stop pier fires

The main buildings were not fitted with sprinklers

A sprinkler system could have helped stop a fire which destroyed part of Southend Pier, a report says.

The Essex Fire Service report says if sprinklers had been installed, the source of the fire, in October 2005, may have been quickly extinguished.

The report, released on Monday, said although there were fire alarms for the shore side buildings, the rest of the pier was without an alarm system.

The alarm could have alerted crews 90 minutes earlier to the blaze.

Assistant Divisional Officer Martin Powell said in the report that because of the high amount of fire damage, it was impossible to say what started the blaze - thought to have started in McGinty's bar.

It added that firefighters faced a number of problems in tackling the fire.

One problem was that firefighters could not find keys for the water hydrants.

Emergency plans for the pier are being reviewed

There was also a short circuit in an emergency generator used to pump water after it was sprayed by a fire boat.

In the report, Assistant Divisional Officer Powell said: "As a result of this investigation it is my belief that had a fire alarm system been in place then the alarm would have been raised some one and a half hours earlier at the first signs of the fire or smoke.

"In addition, any sprinkler system installed using water from the existing wet fire main would have dealt with any resulting fire quickly, extinguishing it before it had the chance to do further damage."

As a result of the report Southend Borough Council is being recommended to insist that any new buildings on the pier be fitted with a fire alarm and sprinkler system.

Fire and emergency plans for the pier are also to be reviewed.

The council is discussing its response to the report at a meeting of its cabinet on 27 June.

At 1.34 miles (2.16km), Southend Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world. It opened in 1889, with extensions added in 1898, 1908 and 1929.