Get Beach Bonfire Permits from SWFD Starting 12/6/10

[kurt]

A beach bonfire is a time-honored tradition that South Walton residents and visitors enjoy as the sun goes down over a perfect South Walton beach evening. On December 6, 2010, the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) Board of Fire Commissioners adopted an Ordinance that assumes responsibility and permitting for beach bonfires.

The Beach Bonfire Ordinance closely mirrors the previous County Ordinance on Beach Bonfires and establishes a procedure for requesting a permit, a fee structure and guidelines for conducting a beach bonfire.
“The SWFD feels it is a natural fit that we have some oversight and awareness of open burning taking place in South Walton, in particular on our beaches”, said Rick Talbert, Fire Chief.
Anyone seeking to obtain a beach bonfire permit must come to the SWFD Station 3/Headquarters, located at 911 N. CR 393, Santa Rosa Beach, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and complete a Temporary Beach Bonfire Permit Application, which requires a $50.00 fee (cash or check only).
“The beaches of South Walton provide the perfect settings for birthday and graduation parties, end of day summer barbecues and uniquely coastal Thanksgiving celebrations that include bonfires. The SWFD wants to ensure that these gatherings are safe and only leave fond memories and footprints in the sand”, said Sean Hughes, Deputy Chief.

For more information concerning beach bonfires contact Fire Marshal Sammy Sanchez at 850-267-1298 or email at info@swfd.org.

[Franny]

Makes sense to me. Thanks for posting Kurt.

[scooterbug44]

That is far too logical - so we know the suggestion of letting the fire department be in charge of who is having bonfires could not be a government idea.

[SWGB]

Can we just leave it with this agency and be done with it?

I'd also like to see someone enforce the container rule, ever since the burn barrels went away it seems like almost everyone is just burning on the sand.

[Miss Critter]

Can we just leave it with this agency and be done with it?

I'd also like to see someone enforce the container rule, ever since the burn barrels went away it seems like almost everyone is just burning on the sand.

Where does one get a burn barrel?

[SWGB]

Where does one get a burn barrel?

The county used to supply them and they vanished the last time they changed who was in charge of burn permits, not sure if the county or some locals got them. The last time it changed you had to buy a washtub from Ace and it worked just fine, but a lot of people just started burning directly on the beach and leaving their bonfire remains.

[wrobert]

That is far too logical - so we know the suggestion of letting the fire department be in charge of who is having bonfires could not be a government idea.

No but it was born out of discussion on this board a year or two back. Just takes a long time to get someone to listen.

[Geo]

I've never seen anyone burn right on the sand/without a barrel. Quit it, people...

[tsutcli]

Apparently there is a section of the Walton County ordinance dealing with Conservation of Endangered Species (turtles/beach mice) and beach lighting that specifies, among other things, no beach fires permited between May 1 and Oct. 31. This is not mentioned anywhere in the info. being diseminated in the media but was brought to my attention by a former county employee responsible for beach activities.

[miznotebook]

Here's a link from the county Web site to the Wildlife Lighting Ordinance that the commissioners approved last year to minimize beach lighting impacts on sea turtles and other native species. I couldn't find anything in it about bonfire permits not being issued between May 1 and Oct. 31, but maybe someone else can: http://fl-waltoncounty.civicplus.com...w.aspx?DID=694