No permit, no fireworks: Calgary Fire Department
Posted Dec 30, 2023 10:15 am.
Thinking of using fireworks to ring in the new year? You could face serious consequences if you break the rules.
“Things can go wrong very quickly and fire spread incredibly quickly especially outside in the dried areas,” said Calgary Fire Department information officer Carol Henke to CityNews.
With the new year around the corner, the Calgary Fire Department is reminding Calgarians of the fireworks restrictions this holiday season.
“Anyone within the city limits of Calgary needs to understand that there is a bylaw that prohibits the sale and setting off of consumer fireworks within the city, anywhere within the city,” she said.
The City of Calgary says permits are required to ignite, shoot, or install fireworks with trained and certified professionals allowed to ignite or fire them off.
If the fireworks are over three inches in diameter, a fire safety code officer must also be present at the event.
Read More: New Year’s Eve events to kick off 2024 in Calgary
Jared Deschner, the president of Magnum Fireworks, says many things can go wrong with fireworks.
“You can start a fire, you can hurt yourself, they are a projectile that comes out when you wait to fuse, you could hurt your eyes, you could do a lot of damage to a limb or your hands if you’re holding the firework, so obviously you never wanted to do that,” he explained.
“If you’re gonna be cut them open the chemicals that are used to create the various colours there’s different chemicals in there and they have different levels of toxicity that you don’t want to be exposed.”
The warning comes after fireworks sparked a grass fire in Panorama Hills on Boxing Day after several kids set it off in an open field.
Crews were able to contain the fire with no damage or injuries reported.
“You cannot set off fireworks in your backyard front yard the green space near your house anywhere unless you are a certified professional and you have obtained a permit from the Calgary Fire Department in advance,” Henke explained.
“Does anybody wanna be responsible for putting people in harm’s way or burning down someone’s home?”
The use of fireworks or blasting without a permit violates the National Fire Code which can result in fines up to $100,000 for first-time offenders and up to half a million dollars for a second offence and even jail time as outlined in the Safety Codes Act.
And if you are going to be within the vicinity of the fireworks display launched from Prince’s Island Park, you’re urged to take precautions, especially around small children and pets.
“Pets are especially sensitive to loud noises and flashes that are associated with fireworks, especially,” Deschner said.
“When those fireworks going on you wanna make sure that your pets are secure come inside and put them somewhere where it’s gonna be a little bit quieter because loud noises can overwhelm them and scare them quite a bit.”
