A Seattle Parks Department study of beach fires at Golden Gardens and Alki Beach recommends continuing to allow such fires, at least through 2006.

Just two years ago, parks department staff had recommended closing both locations to recreational fires because of safety and air quality issues.

According to Adam Cole, an environmental stewardship coordinator for the Seattle Parks Department, the recommendation was made because of a significant drop in illegal burning in both parks. Cole, presenting his findings to the Board of Parks Commissioners hearing on January 26, attributed the drop in part to a more significant parks staff presence. Golden Gardens Park had an average of three staff members on duty, five nights a week during the June to October period, when 80 percent of Golden Gardens fires take place.

"Golden Gardens was a real hot spot for us last year. I think we made some real progress," Cole told the parks commissioners.

Educating park users, working with Seattle Fire and Police departments on compliance measures and removing two of the twelve fire pits at Golden Gardens were other factors that reduced illegal burning, Cole said.

A park study estimated that there were some 2300 illegal fires in Golden Gardens in 2003, and in 2005, about 1000. The amount of illegal material burned was also significantly reduced, from 153 tons of material in 2003 to 15 tons in 2005.

For purposes of comparison, Alki Beach had some 400 illegal beach fires in 2003, and 100 in 2005.

Generally, illegal fires are those which burn outside designated fire pits, or ones where the material being burned is not unfinished cord wood.

Pallets are the biggest portion of illegal fuels used in beach fires. Other illegal materials include garbage and brush.

"The big problem is that people don't know what they're burning," Cole said, referring to finished wood. Burning chemicals that make up a wood finish could release toxic fumes that are damaging to the environment - the people breathing them.

Other dangers from illegal fires include burning materials outside of fire rings. Non-burnable material in such fires, for example a nail, is left behind in the sand after the fire has gone out, buried deep enough to be unseen, but shallow enough to puncture a foot.

Littering, and loitering at the park after hours are other safety concerns the parks department can mitigate with continued use of staff, according to Cole.

Recommendations from the fire report also including considering additional options for managing the park, including seasonal prohibitions against burns during non-peak seasons, and using a fire ring reservation system.

The Board of Parks Commissioners will consider this latest report and then make a recommendation to Parks superintendent, Ken Bounds. The board's recommendation is not binding, but in 2004, when staff recommended prohibiting beach fires, the board recommended keeping the parks open and studying the area. The superintendent agreed with that recommendation. Assuming he does so again, the parks will be reevaluated after the peak fire season ends in October.