SeeCalifornia.com

“The Beach is a resource that belongs to the people of the State of California – to enjoy. Not to be restricted by rules by people of my generation who have outgrown their youth and their tolerance for the antics of the beach – and the beach is full of antics!”

When the City of Newport Beach (under direction of their city council in 2012) requested permits to permanently remove around 60 bonfire rings from the beach, it seemed simple enough. Just fill out the forms, deliver them to the California Coastal Commission and the pits would disappear, poof! That plan hasn’t gone up in smoke just yet, though elected officials aren’t celebrating either. Bonfire beaches  made famous on a TV show called “The OC” continue to sport popular t-shirts emblazoned with “The OC” logos, while wooden stakes driven into the sand have stapled copies of a plan to remove the popular fire rings. However, the Coastal Commission has some reservations and recently recommended to NOT remove them. Among the cited reasons in a report are: 1. The City said air pollution was a major factor in requesting removal, yet they failed to provide any testing. 2. Removing fire rings in this city would set a precedence for removal in other cities with fire rings. 3. An included petition with over 500 signatures and many positive comments in favor of keeping the fire rings is being taken into account.

COMMENTS FROM A PETITION TO KEEP THE NEWPORT BEACH FIRE RINGS:

(I) grew up in Orange County and spent many years on the beaches at Newport. This is just one more example of nanny statehood. I believe most people are capable of having a fire in a fire ring at the beach without doing harm to the greater populace. What a ridiculous regulation/law.

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