Safely enjoying fireworks from home for Victoria Day

Keep your fireworks display away from buildings, grass or overhead wires, writes Mike Doyle

Yorkregion.com
May 14, 2021
Chief Mike Doyle

The Victoria Day long weekend is both an annual signal for warmer weather, and the unofficial start of summer.

This year, the traditional celebrations are on hold, with people staying home to enjoy the extended weekend. Many will have good food, spend time outside and create their own fireworks display.

With this in mind, it’s important to ensure fire safety remains a priority.

The City of Vaughan has a fireworks bylaw which allows the use of consumer fireworks on Victoria Day and Canada Day only.

You are responsible for what happens to a firework before and after it is lit. Be sure to appoint a responsible person to carefully read and follow the directions on the packaging. Only adults who are aware of the hazards and essential safety precautions should handle and discharge fireworks.

To reduce the risk of injury and property damage, make sure everyone is a safe distance away and upwind from where you are discharging the fireworks.

They should not be lit close to combustible materials, like buildings, trees and grass, or where there are obstructions, like overhead wires, or if there are strong winds.

Here are a few more safety tips to put into practice:

• Keep a water hose or pail of water close.

• Light only one firework at a time, and only when it is on the ground. Never try to light a firework in your hand.

• If a firework is a dud, do not try to re-light it. Instead, wait 30 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water.

• Dispose of fireworks in a metal container.

It is also important to keep sparklers away from children. Sparklers are extremely hot when lit, and can ignite clothing, as well as cause blindness and severe burns.

Sparkler wires remain hot for several minutes after burning out, so they should immediately be soaked in water to avoid injury.

With these tips, you can have a great fireworks display for your family to enjoy and create a memorable long weekend.