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🔥 Destin residents overwhelmingly opposed allowing beach bonfires during a heated public hearing.
🚫 Council members rejected a proposal to draft an ordinance for fires on private property after strong public backlash.
🌊 Residents cited code enforcement issues, safety risks, and environmental damage in their objections.
DESTIN — A public hearing on beach bonfires on July 7 revealed overwhelming opposition from Destin residents, despite city staff presenting a framework modeled after Walton County’s successful permitting program.
City Manager Larry Jones opened the hearing by explaining the purpose: “We were asked to hold this as a public hearing so we could take public input, so that’s what’s before you.”
Jones said the city reached out to Walton County for information and described their permitting process, which the South Walton Fire District facilitates.
“The permits there are $105 — $5 is a processing fee, and the other $100 is split equally between the county and the fire district,” he said, noting the program generated $936,000 in revenue for Walton County.
“No way is that going to be a reality in city of Destin, but there is some magnitude there that shows there’s some demand for fires,” Jones added.
Jones also noted that the Destin Fire Control District was in support of the approach and was present at the meeting, recommending that fires be allowed only on private property.
“It would be unfair to have a 60-foot-wide public access and have someone go build a fire at dusk and say nobody else can come to the beach tonight,” he said.
Jones also outlined proposed regulations: fire pits would be located upland of the erosion control line, 25 feet from any property line, 100 feet from structures, and 200 feet from sea turtle nests. No vehicles would be allowed to transport materials, and all fires would need to be contained in a container no larger than four feet in diameter, with a bottom, fire ring, and at least four inches off the ground.
“No treated lumber, no tar paper, rubber-type products, blue-impregnated materials, plastic foam or trash,” Jones said. “Bonfire material would be free of any metals. All Leave No Trace ordinance and regulations would be strictly followed.”
Mayor Bobby Wagner then opened the floor to public comment, which drew several residents who opposed the amendment.
“I’m sorry. I don’t even know why we’re having this discussion. I can’t believe anybody wants to do that,” said Carrie Harbarger. “We can’t control what we have. Guys, please don’t do it. I ask you, please don’t do it. We don’t need it. It doesn’t have any economical impact on us.”
Gary Troope said, “Whether you’re for bonfires or not, until we get some code enforcement that’s reliable and consistent, it’s just a bad idea, period.”
Troope also questioned the projected revenue.
“You’re talking about $180,000 — it’s not a compelling amount of money.” He also warned that unpermitted fires would become an issue: “You just opened up Pandora’s box.”
An unidentified Destin resident said, “Maybe you guys haven’t been over to the beach lately, but I see the dogs on the beach, and the code enforcement can’t even enforce the dogs not being able to go on the beach,” she added, “We don’t need it. If they want a bonfire, go to Walton County.”
Another resident added, “Oh, there’s a bonfire there. We’ll have a bonfire tomorrow night… They’re not going to follow the rules because they don’t even know there’s rules.”
John Carnes, general manager of Henderson Park Inn and Henderson Beach Resort, supported the concept on private beaches.
“Bonfire is a bad word, right? It’s not what it really is. It’s a controlled environment.” He said similar programs on the East Coast involved strict oversight, including fire marshals and safety gear.
“My concierge has to send [guests] to Walton County,” Carnes said. “We’d love to be a beta property on our small, 800-linear [foot] beach… protect our beach, protect our environment, protect our turtles.”
When Councilman Kevin Schmidt moved to direct staff to draft an ordinance to allow bonfires on private property, the motion failed for lack of a second.
“So the business owners, the residents, the people that did talk in favor of it — nobody cares anything about them?” Schmidt asked.
Wagner confirmed,
“That motion failed… We’ll move on.”
Pro Communi Bono
