Fireworks Safety

Every year, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks including devastating burns and injuries, fires, and even death.

To minimize the risk of fire and injury, we do not recommend non-professional fireworks displays.

If you still choose to have your own display, consumer fireworks can only be discharged in accordance with the Fireworks By-law 2012-088.

Safety Tips

• Appoint a responsible person to be in charge. Only adults who are aware of the hazards and essential safety precautions should handle and discharge fireworks.
• Carefully read and follow the directions on the packaging.
• Always keep a hose or pail of water close by when discharging fireworks.
• Discharge fireworks away from combustible materials like buildings, trees, and dry grass.
• Keep onlookers a safe distance away and upwind from the area where fireworks are discharged.
• Only light one firework at a time.
• Never light a firework in your hand or re-light dud fireworks. For dud fireworks, it is best to wait 30 minutes and then soak them in a bucket of water. Dispose of them in a metal container.
• Discharge fireworks only if wind conditions do not create a safety hazard.
• Keep sparklers away from children. Sparklers burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing, cause blindness, or result in severe burns. As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, it should be immediately soaked in water to avoid injury.
• If someone is burned, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes and seek medical attention, if necessary.