In a compromise, an air quality panel voted to keep a rule allowing beach fire pits but voted to move them 700 feet away from homes.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Governing Board voted 7 to 6 in favor of the restrictions at a special meeting held at its headquarters in Diamond Bar on Friday.
The move will become effective March 2014.
The fate of fire pits, long a Southern California tradition, came Friday as a stream of supporters spoke out against any possible rule that would ban a 60-year tradition.
The restriction voted on Friday would likely cut the number of fire pits from 765 to 665 in LA and Orange counties, said Sam Atwood, a spokesman with the SCAQMD. (An earlier version of the story said the number affected would be cut by half.)
At the end of the meeting, an upset resident was escorted out of the meeting by a deputy.
Supporters of fire pits set up a website hoping to protect the tradition.
“Beach bonfire rings have been an important part of the Huntington Beach culture and experience for over 60 years,” according to http://www.savethebonfirerings.com/, indicating $220 has been raised to protect fire pits. “They provide an affordable means of gathering family and friends along the shore to celebrate our outdoor beach lifestyle with s’mores and hotdog roasting under the stars, all while enjoying the glow of a warm fire.”
The AQMD, which for the first time imposed restrictions on fireplace fires this past winter, issued a report in June that said particulate pollution was high in Corona del Mar and Huntington Beach.
Agency staffers also recommended removing fire rings within 700 feet of homes -- a recommendation that means all of Newport Beach's fire pits.
The effort is designed to cut fine and coarse particulate emissions from wood and biomass burning to help meet federal and state air quality standards, officials said.
More Southern California Stories:
- 4 Deputies Injured In Patrol Car Crash
- City Workers Find Body in Manhattan Beach Park
- Pup Badly Burned in Possible Fireworks Prank
- Custody Denied to Nazi-Naming Dad
- Dodgers Ride Capuano's Strong Start to Win
- Ex-MLBer Tops Child Support "Most Wanted" List
- Asiana Fuselage Removed From SFO Runway
- Saudi Princess Accused of Slavery Posts Bail
