The right codes, the right place

As wildfires ravage Southern California, we are painfully reminded of

the damage fires can do. We are reminded that fire prevention is not

a nuisance, but a lifesaver.

And so the decision of the Newport Beach City Council to begin

enforcement of fire codes in the harbor is not only wise but crucial.

Such codes are put in place not to be a hindrance to businesses,

but to protect and save lives.

The codes require that, in case of fire, all boats should be able

to be moved quickly and without having to move other boats out of

their way first. There are boats in violation of that law at more

than half the commercial docks in the harbor.

The codes have not been enforced for so long that many businesses

are dependent on these illegal berthing practices for their survival.

And therein lies the dilemma. No one wants to see these businesses

suffer, but the possible consequence of ignoring fire codes is

unthinkable.

Perhaps that is why the plan came from their own. It is the Harbor

Commission’s plan that the council approved. That plan is to give

businesses violating the fire codes notice that they have six months

to come up with a plan to correct the problem. In some cases, this

will mean reconstructing or reconfiguring their docks. But this gives

business owners a chance to adapt.

Once the city approves the plan, the business owner will have

another six months to implement it.

The city is being more than fair. By approving the commission’s

plan, the city is allowing harbor business owners to fix the problem

rather than demanding an immediate fix to the problem.

This plan takes steps to fix a potentially dangerous problem that

has been neglected for years without crushing the harbor businesses

that are so vital to Newport Beach along the way.