Newport Pier evacuated briefly because of small fire at vacant restaurant building

A small fire ignited by smoldering cigarettes prompted authorities to evacuate hundreds of beachgoers from the Newport Pier on Sunday afternoon.

Newport Beach firefighters responded just after 3:40 p.m. to reports of a fire at the vacant restaurant at the end of the pier.

Four fire engines along with paramedics rushed to the scene, anticipating a blaze similar to the one that claimed the Ruby’s restaurant on the Seal Beach Pier in May. But when they arrived, smoke was all that was left of the fire, according to Battalion Chief Justin Carr.

“We send a lot of units just in case it is something, but when the units got on scene it was determined that it was not a significant fire,” Carr said. “There was very light smoke and no active fire.”

Authorities guided about 250 people off the pier while firefighters worked to make sure the blaze was completely extinguished.

Carr estimated the fire caused about $500 worth of damage to the building, which has been vacant since 2012.

The city entered an agreement with the owners of Bluewater Grill in March for the restaurateurs to develop a conceptual design for a new restaurant building on the pier.

The current building, constructed in the 1940s, is expected to be razed if the project moves forward.