By Amy Senk | Corona del Mar Today
A South Bay Air Quality Management District committee will be discussing beach fire rings at a meeting Friday in a Palm Desert resort, possibly exploring a complete ban on all wood fires in beach fire rings in the district.
“They are taking a little bit more of an extensive approach than anticipated,” said Brenda Wisneski, deputy community development director for Newport Beach who has worked on the city’s Coastal Commission permit application to remove 60 beach fire rings.
Wisneski, who said she plans to attend the meeting, declined to elaborate on what the committee members might be discussing. No staff report was available online, and two staff members with information about the agenda item did not return emails or calls seeking elaboration.
When asked if a year-round beach fire ban was on the table, air quality district spokeswoman Tina Cox said in an email, “I know the topic could be discussed but I don’t believe there is a specific proposal for consideration.”
According to the committee’s agenda, the group will be discussing changes to Rules 444 and 445, which would lower the threshold required to declare No Burn Days, require labels for wood sold by commercial firewood salesmen and other changes to clarify the rules. The agenda states that Rule 444 could be changed to “prohibit open burning in beach areas.”
Read the full story here, on Corona del Mar Today.
