AQMD Gets Earful from Both Sides of Fire Ring Debate

South Coast Air Quality Management District staff members heard an earful Thursday night at another heated meeting about the fate of the embattled fire rings at local beaches.

The public hearing was hosted by the AQMD in Newport Beach and attracted residents who stand on both sides of the controversial issue. While some community members reiterated their desire to remove the 60 fire rings in Newport Beach citing health impacts, some from Huntington Beach said the AQMD should move on to other battles.

Assemblyman Allan Travis (R-Huntington Beach), referring to Assembly Concurrent Resolution 52 adopted this month by the California Legislature, said state lawmakers strongly support the fire rings and reject all of the AQMD's recommendations.

"Our message is loud and clear, our bonfire rings are here to stay. They are an invaluable community treasure," Allan said amid cheers from other fire ring supporters. "They are a time honored tradition. People from all over the world have been coming here to enjoy them for over 60 years."

Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Harper also reinforced the city's stance behind the fire rings.

"The smell of the smelly beach bonfire is knowing that summer has arrived," Harper said. "Move onto other issues affecting air quality in the region and leave our fire rings alone."

But that smell, which some refer to as a big part of the Southern California beach culture, is what has other residents fuming about health impacts.

"My baby's room smells like fire wood at night," Julie Sandercock, a resident of Huntington Beach, said. "It's your responsibility to protect the public's health.

Newport resident Charlie Farrell said the fire ring issues boils down to respect.

"You wouldn't want folks to come to your neighborhood and pollute, so don't come to ours and pollute our air," Farrell said. "Closing our doors and windows doesn't help."

The fire ring debate ignited when the Newport Beach City Council voted last year to remove its 27 fire rings at Big Corona Beach and 33 fire rings near the Balboa Pier. Newport officials followed up with an application to the California Coastal Commission, requesting permission to uninstall the fire rings, which is scheduled to be reviewed in July.

The AQMD walked into the fire ring battle in March, proposing a ban on all fire rings in Orange and Los Angeles counties. But earlier this month the AQMD changed its tune, and suggested changes to the original proposal which include allowing each city to remove its fire rings if deemed a public nuisance, banning any fire rings lying within 700 feet of a home and requiring the distance between fire rings to 100 feet or 50 feet apart in cities that have less than 15 fire rings.

If the proposed changes to the AQMD's Rule 444 are approved, all of Newport Beach's fire rings would have to be removed as well as 30 in Huntington Beach which sits near a mobile home park, according to Barry Wallerstein, AQMD executive officer.

"We take our beach bonfires very seriously," Huntington Beach resident Laura Gillis said. "This issue is about wealth and not about health."

A decision regarding the AQMD's proposed changes is scheduled for its board meeting on July 12.

The AQMD will host another public hearing on the fire rings today at the Embassy Suite Hotel in El Segundo.

What is your position on the fire rings? Tell us in the comments.

Click here for today's top stories on Newport Beach-Corona Del Mar Patch.