Wedge tower burned last week gets temporary replacement at iconic surf spot
The wooden lifeguard tower at the Wedge was replaced over the weekend with a temporary structure – complete with the iconic “W” on its siding.
An early-morning blaze on June 20 had destroyed the tower, a perch that gives guards a place to watch over the wild waves that can reach upwards of 20 foot during hefty summer south swells.
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The replacement came from the nearby “Cylinders” surf break, and the previous “P” posted identifying the tower was replaced with the “W.”
“It wouldn’t be Wedge, without the W,” Newport Beach lifeguard chief Mike Halphide said.
When word of the burnt tower spread, photos of the iconic structure during big swells, during sunsets and other moments captured through the years were posted on social media – online memorials that showed how much this unique area means to ocean enthusiasts.
The tower went up in flames at about 3:45 a.m., according to video from a live feed on Surfline.com.
A wooden beam under the tower, etched with the names of big-wave chargers who have died, was partly charred but has been salvaged, Halphide said. It waits at Lifeguard Headquarters at the Newport Pier to see if it can be added to the permanent structure that will later be installed.
“We definitely want to respect and honor the people’s names recorded on it,” Halphide said. “We understand it was more than a bunch of wood that made up the tower.”
The plank had the names of several respected Wedge riders, including Knox Tiernan, a big-wave bodyboarder who died from an overdose in 2016; Wedge bodysurfers such as Gene Peterson and Brad Honda; and lifeguard Ben Carlson, who died five years ago in the line of duty not far up the coast.
Halphide said it is hoped a permanent tower can be built by mid-July.
In the meantime, patrols for the area of Tower P will use a roving lifeguard based out of the Wedge.
“It’s a little harder on the staff, for sure,” Halphide said.
It’s not the first time the tower has been destroyed, twice it was “swallowed” by the Wedge itself, according to Mel Thoman, a bodysurfer who preserves the surf sport’s history. It also has been set on fire two other times, he said.
It is certainly a spot that needs a lifeguard tower, and not only for the people in the water. The surf is so fierce, spectators who think they are safe on the dry sand can get sucked in by the force of unexpected waves.
“When there’s waves, there should be a guard on the tower,” Thoman said. “The best thing they do in the job is preventative.”
Halphide said there’s been community outreach for fundraising and donations offered to help replace the tower, which officials may explore. Each tower costs between $12,000 and $15,000, with a few hundred more dollars in equipment lost.
“The Wedge and lifeguards are definitely a part of that whole community,” he said. “They are well respected, probably more than other spots because their skills are appreciated.”