Ban on fireworks sought

Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn
Published Nov. 5, 2003


Burnaby fire chief John Stewart has received a report from his fire prevention office that recommends a total ban on the sale of Roman candle fireworks to the general public.

If approved, Burnaby would join Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Vancouver and some Vancouver Island communities that have some kind of restrictions or outright bans on the sale of fireworks.

"The recommendation from this office is to have the public display of fireworks by permit only," fire captain Doug Hahn told the Burnaby NOW on Tuesday morning.

"I find it difficult to justify putting something with so many consequences into the hands of people who don't have the training or legal responsibility to handle it," he said. "I think society has to take control of this.

"I see people's homes burning because of absolute prankster abuse. These are people's homes, properties and landscapes that are being destroyed by blatant disrespect. Society is changing, and I think we have to change with the times."

Hahn said there were 60 fires in the city of Burnaby on Halloween night this year, and the city is simply lucky that nobody was seriously injured and that only one vacant building was destroyed.

Hahn said his recommendation was prompted by Langley city council's decision to limit the sale of Roman candles in that community. This year, Langley city decided that Roman candles can only be sold when they are no more than 25 per cent of a larger package of other fireworks. The restriction was approved with the unanimous consent of Langley city council.

Hahn said he believes the Halloween pranksters are getting worse. Of the 60 incidents responded to by the fire department this Halloween, nine were building fires, 29 were hedge fires and two vehicles were totally destroyed.

"I'd say it was a bad year," Hahn said. "We've had house fires on Halloween before, but the difference this year is that there were so many."

Several of the fires had the potential to be far more serious than they were.

For instance, the only home destroyed by fire on Halloween night this year was a vacant building in the 4400 block of Albert Street that is scheduled to be part of a major redevelopment.

Another potentially serious fire was at the taxidermy shop on Kingsway, where pranksters shot a Roman candle through the mail slot and ignited a stuffed grizzly bear. Luckily, that fire was reported in time by the upstairs tenant of the building.

A home in the 6600 block of Curtis Street suffered damage to a soffit after hooligans set fire to a tree that was leaning up against the home.

Vandals also broke a window and shot at least one Roman candle into Parkcrest elementary school. That fire was also extinguished before any serious damage occurred.

Several of the more serious blazes involved deliberate attempts to burn down trees or hedges, Hahn said.

"Hedge fires are among the most dangerous," Hahn said. "I've seen those things go up like tinder. Some of them can be 100 feet long, and to replace them can cost upwards of $20,000."

Hahn noted that the Burnaby RCMP also shut down a fireworks vendor at 10th Avenue and Sixth Street this year after the merchant was caught selling fireworks to underage children.

Last month, Burnaby city council rejected a plan to restrict the sale of Roman candles.

Under the current city bylaw, Roman candles can only be sold to person over the age of 18, and can only be used on private property with the permission of the landowner.