Don't put away the hot dogs and s'mores just yet. Air quality officials might be backing off on their controversial proposal for a blanket ban on beach bonfires in Southern California.
After considerable backlash from beach communities, the South Coast Air Quality Management District submitted a series of changes that would give individual cities the discretion to eliminate fire pits. The proposed changes are in line with demands of business leaders and legislators from Seal Beach, Huntington Beach and interior cities such as Santa Ana, who labeled the ban an attack on the Southern California way of life.
In the latest proposal, which will go before the AQMD board in July, beach cities would be given greater authority to decide whether to keep fire pits. The agency does, however, seek approval to institute measures such as buffer zones between homes and fire pits, to implement no-burn days during unfavorable weather conditions, and to test alternative gas-burning pits.
The air quality district ignited a political firestorm in March when it floated a plan to ban beach fire pits in Orange and Los Angeles counties because of the unhealthful impact to the air quality in surrounding cities. While Newport Beach officials led the charge to remove its fire pits out of concern for the air quality of nearby residents, legislators and city officials in neighboring cities fought the ban.
Sam Atwood, AQMD spokesman, said the agency hopes the proposed changes address concerns on both sides of the heated fire ring debate.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"We have included language in our Rule 444 proposal which basically would layer AQMD regulations on top of that existing authority to reinforce the ability of cities and counties to prohibit burning and not be subject to any other governing bodes including the California Coastal Commission," said Atwood.
The recommendation is important to Newport Beach because in March 2012 the City Council voted to get rid of the 27 fire rings at Big Corona Beach and the 33 fire rings near the Balboa Pier. The city was then required to submit an application to the California Coastal Commission requesting permission to uninstall its fire pits.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
AQMD staff recommendations, which will be presented to the AQMD board for consideration at a special meeting on July 12, include:
- adding buffer zones to allow fire rings that are at least 700 feet away from the nearest homes; increasing the distance between fire rings to 100 feet or 50 feet apart in cities that have less than 15 fire rings
- implementing no-burn days during unfavorable weather conditions between November and February; implementing a compliance program to ensure only wood is being burned in the fire pits
- enhancing public education regarding wood smoke via signage and flyers handed out to the community
- exploring the use of non-wood burning alternatives including gaseous-fueled fire rings
Newport Beach officials maintain the fire rings present health impacts to residents who live nearby, pose fire threats and safety threats to beachgoers and residents who are subjected to hot ash from the fire rings when they are not doused.
On Friday Newport Beach officials said the city would work with the AQMD to install five non-wood burning fire rings at Big Corona Beach and five at the Balboa Pier area to help preserve the tradition of beach fires.
Mayor Keith Curry said he was pleased with AQMD's proposed changes to the fire ring ban.
"This will allow residents and visitors to continue to enjoy fire rings, while at the same time protecting the health of our residents and employees," Curry said. "We continue to believe that every community should decide for itself the best way to address the health impacts of wood smoke, and one solution should not be imposed on all communities.”
If the project proves to not impact the nearby community negatively, Newport Beach will consider making the non-wood burning fire pits permanent and adding more.
A public meeting regarding the fire ring debate is scheduled for Thursday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach.
The AQMD will continue to monitor the air quality at local beaches with fire rings, and report its findings to the public, officials said.
What do you think? Should each city be allowed to decide whether to keep or ban fire pits?Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
