Yarmouth Fall Beach Bonfire Backfired, Left Sand Strewn With Nails
BOSTON (CBS) -- Last fall's bonfire on Bass River Beach in Yarmouth may have been a big hit, but the Parks and Recreation Department got burned in the long run.
It turns out the bonfire left behind hundreds of rusty nails and staples that had connected the pallets of wood used to fuel the flames.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mary Blake reports
The town's Parks and Recreation chief, Patricia Armstrong, said they decided to use the pallets because they didn't want any residual chemicals or refuse after the bonfire.
But that precaution apparently backfired.
"For us to do this to one of our gems of our chain of beaches on the south side is embarrassing," Armstrong told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "I'm going to take personal responsibility to make sure that it's cleaned up."
The problem was compounded by strong winter winds that scattered the finer sand, exposing the nails and staples which were then spread further by the machines that regularly clean the beach.
Armstrong promises the mess will be cleaned up by the time warmer weather arrives and people hit the beach in their bare feet.
She said that while the town made a big mistake, it's not a reason to put an end to beach bonfires.
"We can learn from this mistake," Armstrong said. "I'd like to put in place the appropriate policies so that we can do it again."
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