Newport fire rings comply with rules, AQMD says

Newport Beach’s 60 beach fire rings — both wood and charcoal — are in compliance with the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s rules, according to the agency’s executive officer.

“I’ve had several discussions with Dave Kiff, the city manager,” the officer, Barry Wallerstein, said Wednesday.

Kiff had asked for a few extra days to finish moving the rings into place so they are 100 feet apart, if wood-burning, or past a 700-foot buffer zone from homes, as the agency requires.

AQMD inspectors were at Corona del Mar State Beach and the Balboa Pier area on Wednesday morning.

The City Council voted 5 to 2 on Jan. 13 to return wood to beach bonfires at 30 rings — 15 on the east side of the Balboa Pier and 15 at Corona del Mar. In March, the AQMD changed its rules, imposing strict spacing requirements on cities’ fire rings.

“My staff sent a note that said the rings are spaced properly,” Wallerstein said.

At Corona del Mar, some of the rings are now green and labeled as charcoal-only in English and Spanish. The wood-burning rings remain white.

Wallerstein said he is aware that the city is considering a permanent plan for fire rings. Residents can review the options on the city’s website as part of a survey.

The council agreed in January to try to amend the city’s coastal development permit with the California Coastal Commission to allow the city to burn wood in all 60 of its fire pits, split among Corona del Mar, the Balboa Pier, the Newport Pier and Newport Dunes. The city must seek Coastal Commission approval before moving forward with a plan.

Erin Prahler, a Coastal Commission staff member, said, “We will review the new configurations once the amended project description and supporting information arrives.”

She said the city’s action in 2013 to convert its rings to charcoal-only also required a coastal development permit, which Newport Beach didn’t obtain.

“We did not pursue an enforcement action then, so we are working with the city to get the new plan before the commission as quickly as we can,” she said.

“It’s important to keep in mind this [current setup] is an interim configuration,” Wallerstein said. “We’re monitoring the situation. But the city is on the road to compliance, not only with the SCAQMD but also the Coastal Commission.”

Wallerstein acknowledged that having a combination of charcoal- and wood-burning rings separated in some cases by a few feet could create enforcement problems. Newport Beach staff also has acknowledged that a mixture of charcoal and wood is not recommended.

“We’re aware of the issues, city staff is aware of the issues,” Wallerstein said. “We’re going to see how it goes.”

Staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report.