The Coastal Commission on Thursday approved Newport Beach’s plans for 64 fire rings, a compromise ending a divisive debate between nostalgic beachgoers and environmentalists.
Four of the rings will be in the Newport Dunes and 24 at Corona Del Mar State Beach, according to City Manager Dave Kiff. Eight of the 24 at the state beach will be charcoal-burning rings and the rest wood, Kiff said.
“Overall, it was a compromise between the city, the (Air Quality Management District), Coastal Commission staff, Friends of the Fire Rings and (neighbors),” Kiff said.
The city has 56 fire rings now, Kiff said. The number of charcoal- powered rings will be reduced from 30 to 24, Kiff said.
The AQMD believes charcoal is “cleaner” than wood, Kiff said.
Beachgoers looking to cook burgers at the ocean prefer the charcoal- powered rings, while those nostalgic bonfire admirers prefer wood, Kiff said.
City officials had discussed natural gas-powered fire rings, but they “haven’t found a model that works yet,” Kiff said.
“I’m happy that it’s done,” Kiff said of the fire ring plan. “It’s been very divisive in the community the last three years.”
The struggle over fire pits started in Newport Beach when some neighbors complained of smoke. That led city officials to seek a ban on the fire rings, but it touched off a fiery debate, and with several new Newport Beach City Council members getting elected there was a sea change in opinion.
Newport Beach officials sought the commission’s approval to ban the fire pits, but the commission got the AQMD involved because it wanted scientific data on the health effects of the bonfires before making a decision. That led the AQMD to consider a total ban on the fire pits along much of the Southern California coast.
In July 2013, the AQMD approved restrictions on the fire pits on Southland beaches.
— City News Service