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AQMD to Address Fire Ring Debate

Huntington Beach officials will argue to preserve beach fire pits at a meeting of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Huntington Beach and Newport Beach officials, who disagree on the future of fire pits in Orange County, will make their cases Thursday to the agency that could decide whether the tradition of beach bonfires continues.

South Coast Air Quality Management District officials will listen to public feedback on a recommendation from the agency's staff to ban fire rings on beaches across much of Southern California.

The agency oversees all of Orange County and most of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, so if the district board in May upholds the staff's recommendation, fire pits throughout Orange County and most beaches in Los Angeles County would be outlawed.

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Newport Beach officials want to end the fire pits, but their counterparts from Huntington Beach want to keep them legal.

Earlier this month, the California Coastal Commission postponed a decision on Newport Beach's request to remove fire pits from the city's beaches because that agency wanted to wait for feedback from the AQMD.

Find out what's happening in Fountain Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce officials say the city would lose $1 million annually in parking income if fire pits are banned.

Huntington Beach Mayor Connie Boardman sent a letter to the AQMD last week opposing the proposed ban on fire pits.

"The city of Huntington Beach receives more than 11 million visitors annually," Boardman said. "While not all of those visitors participate in recreational fires on our beach areas, a large majority visit our beaches solely for that purpose. We estimate that these visitors generate more than $1 million annually in revenue through parking fees, sales tax from local shopping and transient occupancy tax from overnight stays."

The city, which has offered fire rings for six decades, has more than any other beach city in Orange and Los Angeles counties, Boardman said.

"The concept of a warm open fire evokes a sense of family and special memories for many generations," Boardman said in the letter. "A few years ago, as a way to reduce maintenance costs at the beach, the city considered removing some of the fire rings. Our residents were outraged. The proposal was dropped."

Newport Beach officials contend the fire pits pose a health hazard for beachgoers and neighbors. The AQMD staff agrees.

There are no homes near Huntington Beach's fire rings, Boardman said.

-City News Service


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