By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — Fire pits are now among the beachside amenities available to Westporters.

Under a policy adopted unanimously Monday by the Parks and Recreation Commission, starting April 1 residents 21 years old and over can reserve a fire pit at Compo Beach for one day from May 1 through Sept. 30. Cost of the permit is $150. 

Permits for two fire pits on Compo’s South Beach will be issued daily, for use between 4 and 10 p.m., during the designated season.

List of regulations fine-tuned

Commission members approved the fire pit plan after questions, particularly about safety, were answered. The panel had tabled a final vote on the proposal March 19, asking for more information. (A full list of the new regulations is attached to the end of this article.)

Parks and Recreation Director Erik Barbieri told the commission that state-issued alerts on air quality and fire safety would be followed, so permits would not be granted on those days. The town will provide moisture meters to make sure wood used for a fire is not wet, which could cause logs to smoke or “pop,” risking the spread of flames. An approved fire starter block will be given to each permit holder so gasoline or other unsafe accelerants are not used.

Only Parks and Recreation Department staff will extinguish fires and empty ashes into metal containers for disposal, said Carmen Roda, the department’s operations manager. Staff will receive safety training from the Fire Department, which will be repeated several times early in the season, he added. 

“The staff will be omnipresent, right on top of the fire,” Barbieri said, to make sure that rules are followed, which include not throwing paper plates and napkins into the fire.

If a crowd becomes unruly or a fire burns out of control, police patrolling the beach will be called immediately, he said. 

The person issued the fire pit permit must also be present at all times.

Strict enforcement 

“We want to be very strict, always, but especially in the beginning,” Barbieri said.

Both the Fire and Police departments reviewed the procedures set for the fire pit program. “We do not have an issue with their use at this time,” Deputy Police Chief Ryan Paulsson wrote in a letter to the commission. “We do feel it is best to re-evaluate after several months of use to see what, if any, issues arise.” 

The regulations outlined in a packet given to the commissioners also establish a waiting list for fire pit permits, which the commission had suggested at the previous meeting to ensure permits are issued fairly.

The only request made by the commission that was not included in the regulations was to shorten the time period — from three to two weeks — when changing a permit’s date could be made with a refund. 

“We need the time to work on the permit process internally,” Barbieri said. “We don’t want the staff to be rushed.” 

Fire pit rentals are expected to gross $23,000 in revenue, and net approximately $19,000, this season after accounting for the cost of staffing the beach an additional hour and buying the fire pits, Roda reported.

The first year of the fire pit rental program “is a trial run,” Barbieri said. Changes could be made during this season or next year, he said, when more fire pits are expected to be added.

“It’s a great new amenity,” commented Commissioner Elaine Whitney. “Thanks to the team for working on this, and listening to the feedback and taking the time to address our comments.”

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.

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Following is the full list of regulations approved for fire pit rentals at Compo Beach: