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Fireworks Safety in the City of Vancouver

General Information

Thousands of fires are started and thousands of people are injured by fireworks every year. Children suffer the most from fireworks related injuries which usually occur to the eyes, head and/or hands. Fireworks, including sparklers, should always be handled by an adult. Did you know that the tip of a sparklers can get as hot as 1200 degrees Fahrenheit!

Family Fireworks may only be purchased between October 25th to October 31st, 2009. Fireworks can only be discharged on Halloween, October 31st. To obtain the permit to purchase and discharge Family Fireworks, the person must be over 19 years of age, pass an online "Fire Safety Quiz," and produce two pieces of identification when purchasing.

Retailers wishing to sell fireworks must come in person to the Fire Prevention Office located at #201, 456 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, to apply for a permit. The fee for a permit to sell fireworks is $250.00 (annual permit). Retailers CANNOT sell fireworks before October 25th, 2009.

If you require more info on this topic, please contact Fire Prevention at 604 873-7860.

Fireworks Safety Tips

• Before lighting fireworks, make sure they are firmly planted in a pail of sand of dirt.
• Stand well back when the firework has been lit.
• Never hold fireworks in your hand, or point them at people, animals or property.
• Keep a charged hose or pail of water handy when igniting fireworks.
• Never pick up spent fireworks until your are absolutely sure they are completely out.
• Ensure all clothing and/or costumes worn while igniting fireworks are non-flammable.

Information for Family Fireworks

• Family Fireworks, not including firecrackers, can only be purchased, possessed and discharged with a permit issued from the Fire Chief
• Family Fireworks can be purchased with a permit between October 25^th and October 31^st, 2009, inclusive, and discharged with a permit ONLY on October 31^st. No person shall discharge Family Fireworks in a street, lane, or any other public place, except as authorized by the Fire Chief.
• Citizens 19 years of age and older who intend to purchase and discharge fireworks in the City of Vancouver on Halloween must acquire and possess a permit. To acquire a permit, citizens must log onto vancouver.ca/fire, and click on the Fireworks Permit link. Once they have navigated to the Fireworks Permit page, they must fill out the application, read the fireworks safety information, and then answer an online "fireworks safety test." Upon successful completion of the test, a permit will be issued which can be printed. The printed permit, and two pieces of ID are required to purchase and discharge fireworks.

Information for Retailers Selling Fireworks

Fireworks should be retailed behind either a glass case or a caged case so that they cannot be freely handled by a purchaser. A person using fireworks should be knowledgeable on the safe handling of fireworks. Violators may risk having their permit to sell fireworks revoked, and future Fire Permits for subsequent years may be refused.

• It is illegal for retailers to sell a roman candle except as part of a family pack.
• It is illegal for a retailer or any other person, to sell, offer for sale, give or furnish fireworks to any person under the age of 19 years, and who does not have a permit to purchase and discharge Family Fireworks.

Procedures for Retailers

Retailers wishing to sell fireworks must come in person to the Fire Prevention Office located at #201, 456 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, to fill out an application form for a permit. A "RETAIL" Business License identifying each unique location where fireworks will be sold must be presented, along with a valid Drivers license, when applying for the permit. A separate application, and the associated fees for a permit to sell family fireworks, is required for each location. Once the form is filled out and the information is reviewed by the Fire Prevention Inspector, the customer is required to take the form and proceed to the Trades Counter up at City Hall (2nd Fl. East Wing of City Hall), for payment ($250.00/permit) and will then receive the actual permit.

For more information refer to section 5.8.2.of the Vancouver Fire By-Law 2000