‘No fun BC’: Halloween fireworks banned in Kamloops, Okanagan

Kamloops and cities around the Okanagan have bans on fireworks but it’s still the biggest time of the year for fireworks retailers.

William Poirier operates Big Rig Fireworks, one of the few fireworks stores in B.C. Big Rig is based in the Lower Mainland but it supplies shops on First Nation reserves near Penticton and Vernon that aren’t under municipal bylaws banning fireworks.

He said while bylaws are important to make sure people are safe and respectful, there should be more of a balance between an outright year-long ban and a free-for-all.

“No fun B.C.,” he said. “I wouldn’t want fireworks going off all-year round either. We’ve got elders, we’ve got everybody around, but for special occasions, we should definitely be allowed.” 

Poirier has been selling fireworks on and off for around 20 years.

In order to shoot fireworks in Kelowna, and most cities in B.C., it needs to be at a sanctioned event with a fireworks permit and the person lighting them has to be licensed by the federal government as a fireworks supervisor or a pyrotechnician. 

It’s also illegal to sell or possess fireworks in the city. 

West Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton have similar bylaws banning personal use of fireworks. 

Kelowna RCMP said cops are going to be on high alert for hooligans with Roman candles and bottle rockets this year since Halloween falls on a Friday. 

“There will be a larger police presence and in regards to fireworks, they are prohibited within the municipality under the Fire and Safety Bylaw,” Cpl. Allison Konsmo said in an emailed statement. 

Poirier closes down shop during wildfire season and said that Halloween is the biggest holiday for fireworks in the province, which might come as a culture shock for folks from other provinces that don’t light off fireworks during spooky season.

He said if there were looser regulations, other holidays would be able to be celebrated more freely. 

“This is a multicultural country now. Chinese New Year’s, you’ve got Diwali, you’ve got all these other holidays that revolve around fireworks,” he said. 

While it is illegal to sell or shoot off fireworks in many cities in B.C., there are numerous online sites that sell and deliver fireworks to anyone over 18 years old. 

Physical locations like Big Rig get visits from fire marshalls, can check IDs to make sure buyers are over 18 and are easily held accountable for selling illegal fireworks or other violations. Poirier said online retailers aren’t so easily held accountable.

“People order this stuff online, but not everybody’s regulated, right? All of our fireworks are B.C. standard regulated,” he said. “We have the fire marshalls come by, make sure everything’s all good. Our fire extinguishers are up to date, we ID people… online is definitely, definitely riskier. You can buy stuff from all over. You can buy stuff from China and you don’t know if that’s actually regulated or not.”

Fireworks are heavily regulated in B.C. but it generally falls onto cities to decide when they’re allowed. 

B.C. has a Fireworks Act that bans fireworks except for the week of Halloween or with permission from local authorities. Cities have their own bylaws that apply during the week of Halloween. 

“Except between October 24 and November 1 in any year, a person must not sell, give, fire or set off fireworks,” the act read. 

The act puts responsibility for approving fireworks shows on local governments.

“Fireworks may be sold to and discharged by a person or organization at a public display if the public display is held with the written permission of the local authority that has jurisdiction where the public display is held,” the act read.