Be Respectful of Fireworks

Fire Chief Brent Marshall says, “Fireworks have become popular entertainment over the years for celebrating weddings, religious ceremonies and other special days such as Dominion and Victoria Day”. But Chief Marshall advises that, “As the popularity grows for their use, so do the number of injuries and mishaps”. These incidents occur partly due to the lack of user experience, knowledge and respect for the products.

Chief Marshall has these safety tips to those celebrating with fireworks:

1. Read and understand all instructions enclosed with the product before using.
2. Store the fireworks in a cool, dry location. Keep them out of direct sunlight.
3. Never light or hold lighted fireworks in your hand.
4. Maintain adult supervision at all times, especially when children are present.
5. Always light the fireworks at the tip of the fuse.
6. Have a pail of water nearby. Place fired devices and debris into the water when cleaning up.
7. If you have a product that does not discharge, do not try to reignite. Place in the pail of water.
8. Do not fire in windy conditions. Embers can cause serious damage to nearby homes, people and property.
9. Never discharge fireworks indoors.
10. Resist the temptation to take personal fireworks to commercial fireworks displays.

Councillor Bryan Lewis, Chairman of the Fire Services and Emergency Planning Committee suggests, “If you are thinking about celebrating the upcoming festivities with fireworks on Canada Day, follow safe practices so that everyone has an enjoyable celebration. You can talk with Staff at the Information Centre in Georgetown Marketplace on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 – 1:30 for additional safety tips when handling fireworks”.

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