By Jorge Casuso

August 9, 2010 -- Worried that lighting up on Santa Monica's historic wooden pier could ignite another blaze, the City Council Tuesday night will consider banning smoking anywhere on the 100-year-old structure.

The proposed ordinance would amend a 2004 law that limits smoking to nine designated smoking areas on the pier, which draws as many as 4 million visitors a year.

The measure will be taken up after two recent fires were caused by discarded cigarettes -- one on April 30 that resulted in approximately 30 square feet of damage and another on May 11 that caused roughly 50 square feet of damage, City officials said.

"The dangers posed by continuing to allow smoking on the Santa Monica Pier puts the Pier, Pier businesses, and public safety at risk," City staff wrote in a report to the council.

"One of the biggest threats to the historic wood-plank Pier is the risk of fire," staff wrote. "Improperly extinguished cigarettes are reported to be the leading cause of fire on the pier."

City officials note that the incidences of fire have dropped since the 2004 law was implemented, but they worry that the fire hazards that smoking presents continue to pose a threat that "could have a devastating impact on the Pier and on public safety."

"Although the timber deck boards and piles are treated with fire-resistant coatings, a fire hazard exists when a cigarette falls in between the wooden deck boards igniting the dust and debris caught between and under the planks," City staff said.

"The dust and debris can act as kindling for a fire to begin underneath the boards, visible above the deck only upon the fire growing larger."

If the measure is adopted, the City will "install highly visible signage and will coordinate with the Pier Restoration Corporation to implement a public awareness and education campaign about the new prohibition," according to the staff report.

At the July 7, 2010 Pier Restoration Corporation Board meeting, the Board approved a motion to request that the council ban smoking on the pier.

Currently, the City prohibits smoking in parks, beaches, all outdoor dining areas, farmers markets, on the Third Street Promenade, and at outdoor waiting areas such as ATMs, bus stops and movie lines.

If a pier ban is approved, the closest smoking area will be Ocean Front Walk – a wide pedestrian pathway that runs north and south of the Pier.

"One of the biggest threats to the historic wood-plank Pier is the risk of fire. Improperly extinguished cigarettes are reported to be the leading cause of fire on the pier."
   Santa Monica City staff