The Laguna Beach City Council last week unanimously supported, in concept, a pilot program that would ban parking on one or both sides of certain streets to allow fire engines enough space to battle a blaze or handle life-threatening emergency.
Laguna's narrow, steep and curved streets create challenges for firefighters who, in some cases, must park engines hundreds of feet away from a fire and haul equipment such as hoses to a scene, officials said. Committee members and firefighters went on a ride-along last fall through several neighborhoods, including Old Top of the World, Bluebird Canyon, Arch Beach Heights, Alta Vista, Temple Hills and Diamond-Crestview.
The city's Emergency Disaster Preparedness Committee and Fire Department have worked on the idea, which takes ambulance and police vehicles into account, for the last year and will hold at least one community meeting, gather feedback and return to the council later this year with a recommendation.
"We have parking access problems 24/7, 365," Laguna Beach Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse said, calling the program a "life-saving matter."