As dry conditions stretch past 100 days and Sunshine Coast local governments have declared states of local emergency, several authorities have also chosen not to allow any firework permits for Halloween celebrations.
Although shíshálh Nation had briefly considered bringing back their Halloween night fireworks display after a two-year hiatus, hiwus Warren Paull said council has decided against bringing the event back this year. The idea had been to launch the display from a barge in Trail Bay, but the Nation is now banning the use of fireworks during the state of local emergency (SOLE). While the SOLE is currently in effect for seven days, until Oct. 24, Paull said there will be no usage of fireworks at all.
“We had a pretty in-depth conversation,” he said. “We’re officially nervous.”
Last week, Paull said they recently asked someone to cease and desist from selling fireworks locally from out of their garage, as they did not have the proper insurance or safeguards.
“Plus, do you really want to be selling fireworks when we’re in Stage 4? There's a little thing called common sense. Let’s try to exercise a little discretion here,” Paull said.
Fireworks ban
On Oct. 13, the Gibsons & District Volunteer Fire Department and Town’s senior bylaw enforcement officer announced their decision not to approve permits for individual fireworks displays because of the ongoing drought conditions. On Halloween night, bylaw staff will patrol the town, and anyone caught lighting fireworks will be fined $200.
Fire chief Rob Michael told Coast Reporter they made the decision by analyzing data such as the fuel build up index, the moisture code and the regional water supply’s capacity for day-to-day firefighting “let alone a brush fire or large scale conflagration that takes a tremendous amount of resources to extinguish.”
“It’s generally why we follow the lead of BC Wildfire Service, because those decisions are data driven,” Michael said. “But given our severe and ongoing drought, it was a very simple decision for the fire chiefs to make to come together and reinstate the open burning restrictions.”
The Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) decision to reinstate a Coast-wide fire ban came into effect just ahead of Thanksgiving weekend. It includes all fires for warmth or cooking, beach fires, burning barrels, fireworks, firecrackers and sky lanterns.
Not everyone has been following those restrictions, however. On Oct. 14, Michael said the Gibsons volunteers have attended a number of beach fires where people have passed multiple signs that say no fires allowed.
When a fire ban is not in effect, fireworks are unregulated in the SCRD and the provincial Fireworks Act does not apply to the region, Michael said. He added it’s something the SCRD could look at in the future.
For Halloween night, Michael also suggests people use flashlights and glowsticks rather than candlesticks.
In years past, Gibsons has allowed firework displays on a permit-based system under its fireworks bylaw. The permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance with a $25 processing fee (plus a $25 display permit fee). Applicants must be 19 years of age or older and have proof of adequate insurance.
Selling, distributing and using fireworks is not allowed in the District of Sechelt as per a bylaw, except under special circumstances, where organizers must apply in writing to the fire chief. Trevor Pike, the fire chief of the Sechelt Fire Department, said he’s never issued the District of Sechelt a permit.
Halloween festivities
While there won’t be fireworks, 2022 is shepherding in the return of other Halloween festivities, including the Gibsons Halloween Block Party on Saturday, Oct. 29.(Some of last year’s events included the dancing witches in Sechelt, an underwater pumpkin contest and, of course, candy.) Know of a public Halloween 2022 event not listed here? Let us know at [email protected].
