Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Beach Fires topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Seabrook panel keeps beach bonfires allowed but seeks stricter permits and wet‑sand limit
Summary
The committee agreed in principle to continue allowing beach fires only with permits, move allowable fires to wet (intertidal) sand to avoid private‑property loopholes, and pursue an intergovernmental agreement so St. John's Fire District can help enforce town permits.
The Seabrook Island beach rules committee signaled consensus to continue allowing controlled beach fires but to tighten where and how they are permitted and enforced. Joe, a town staff member involved in drafting the ordinance, told the group the current definition of “beach” (only below the high‑water mark) creates an enforcement loophole for dry sand and private property, saying it is “a massive loophole in our beach ordinance.”
Under the committee’s direction, the town will pursue amending the ordinance so town rules apply to sand seaward of dunes (wet‑sand areas) rather than only below the high‑water mark, which would make permits easier to enforce and remove uncertainty about SAPOA’s authority over private dry sand. Committee members repeatedly emphasized safety and wildlife protection as the rationale for narrowing permitted locations.
On enforcement, Joe described a practical two‑step permitting approach already discussed: SAPOA or private property owners would review and authorize fires on their property, but the town would be the issuing authority with enforceable permits. The committee also discussed an intergovernmental agreement with St. John's Fire District so firefighters — who are on island 24/7 and can operate at night — can act on behalf of the town to enforce permit conditions. Several members said enforcement capability was the key reason to prefer town‑issued permits.
Committee members reviewed technical permit elements (hours, a requirement to fully extinguish and remove ash, prohibited materials such as pressure‑treated lumber, and the option for the fire department to cancel permits for hazardous weather). They also agreed permits should include a printed rules sheet and that the town’s communications director should add permitting information to short‑term rental packets and update beach signage if the ordinance is adopted.
Next steps called for staff to consult St. John's Fire District about enforcement willingness and to incorporate permit language (hours, pit dimensions, extinguishment, cleanup) into a revised draft for a joint workshop with the Environmental & Wildlife Committee before forwarding recommendations to the council.
