Morongo Basin residents should NOT have to choose between running their evaporative "swamp" coolers on hot summer nights- or having clean, smoke-free, breathable air while sleeping! Imagine ending a long, hot summer day in the Morongo Basin, where temperatures often soar into the triple digits even after the sun has set. The relentless heat leaves few cooling options for residents like myself, who rely heavily on swamp coolers to maintain any semblance of comfort during sweltering nights. But every weekend, and increasingly on weeknights, the familiar and intrusive smell of campfire smoke invades our homes, sucked in DIRECTLY through our swamp coolers and into our homes. For over five years, I have been caught in this cycle, repeatedly asking my short-term rental (STR) neighbors to ban their guests from lighting campfires...many of those guests also leave those campfires unattended. My earnest pleas, based on genuine health and safety concerns, have been dismissed. Even after discussing these issues with the property owners, I've received no commitment to change. Meanwhile, the dense, choking smoke fills my house, leaving me to choose between 1) NOT running my swamp cooler and trying to sleep in unbearable heat and polluted air, or, allowing my home to be cooled by my swamp coolers as they simultaneously suck in campfire smoke from surrounding STRs. ....Five years of summers, waking up in the middle of the night, to a house filled with smoke and the instant panic that my home is on fire. This is unacceptable. The issue is not isolated. Many residents across the Morongo Basin face the same plight, all of us unfairly forced into this impossible balancing act due to lax regulations. Our concerns do not reflect mere inconvenience; wood smoke is laden with fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants, presenting significant health risks—especially to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting respiratory conditions. Currently, regulations in San Bernardino County allow this persistent problem to continue unabated. However, there is a precedent for change. In our own mountain communities, measures have been successfully implemented to ban open wood fires in Airbnb properties to protect residents and their air quality. The desert communities deserve the same consideration and protection. There is also another option for STRs to have safe fires for their guests and neighbors: Natural gas fire pits- Which are significantly safer for short-term rentals in the Mojave Desert compared to wood-burning or regular solid-fuel fire pits for several key reasons: -No Stray Embers or Sparks: Natural gas systems produce a clean, controlled flame with zero flying sparks or popping embers, dramatically reducing the risk of accidental brush fires during high-heat conditions and dry desert nights. -Instant Shut-Off Control: Unlike wood fires that can smolder undetected for hours or days after use, gas fire pits feature immediate valve shut-offs, eliminating the hazard of lingering heat reigniting in high winds. Zero Smoke -Production: Burning clean natural gas eliminates dense smoke, protecting surrounding guests and neighboring properties from air quality hazards during sensitive desert fire seasons. Natural gas fire pits is an immediate solution to a complete ban of fuel-based campfires at short-term rentals. This is why I am calling on Supervisor Dawn Rowe to champion an amendment to the San Bernardino County STR ordinance that would prohibit open wood fires, including campfires, at all short-term rental properties in our region. Enforcing such a ban wouldn't just prevent health hazards but would also promote harmonious coexistence between long-term residents and STR guests. Join me in making our voices heard. By signing this petition, you are advocating for the right to breathe clean air, enjoy comfortable summer nights, and preserve the health and safety of our communities. Let's urge Supervisor Dawn Rowe to take immediate action to protect the wellbeing of Morongo Basin residents.