Fair may clear its skies of smoke and drones

Each summer at the Orange County Fair, food stands are stocked with meaty treats for the carnivorous masses who then descend upon the Costa Mesa property intent on trying the latest versions of summertime fare.

But at what cost?

According to fairgrounds activists and some vendors, the barbecue stands are creating excessively smoky conditions that create ill effects upon fairgoers and employees in particular.

Reggie Mundekis of the Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society told the Fair Board during its Thursday meeting that the wood-generated smoke is far more hazardous than cigarette smoking, which the fairgrounds is considering banning.

The smoke also affects the crews who work in the nearby livestock areas, she said.

Fairgrounds CEO Doug Lofstrom said the staff is sensitive to the concerns.

The fair board then requested a study on wood smoke, which will be presented during the January meeting.

The board also examined a staff request to create a formalized policy for drones and other remote-controlled devices that now commonly fly over the 150-acre property.

Though they are generally used for acquiring aerial video footage and photography, drones and other flying machines have been posing safety concerns, staff said.

A recent incident involved an unauthorized drone falling out of the sky and hitting a toddler during February’s Tet Festival.

Though the child was not seriously injured, she did go to the hospital.

“That obviously created a huge amount of concern from our safety and security team,” said Sharon Augenstein, the fairgrounds’ chief financial officer.

Board Chairwoman Ashleigh Aitken said she worried about multiple drones swarming over the fair, or one of the devices falling onto the skyway ride.

Costa Mesa Historical Society President Bob Palazzola suggested a no-fly zone over the fairgrounds. Such a policy, he said, would also restrict people who fly drones over the fairgrounds but are operating them from outside the property.

Fairgrounds staff noted that the Del Mar Fairgrounds prohibits drones and similar flying systems, unless written permission is granted.