With arid lawns and dry shrubs blanketing the city, the London Fire Department is urging residents to be extremely careful with fireworks this holiday weekend.
While the threat of fire is always present with fireworks, Deputy Fire Chief Brian McLaughlin knows that this year’s conditions put safety at a greater risk.
“It’s a particular concern this year because of the dry environment,” McLaughlin says. “We haven’t had a lot of rain lately, so therefore your shrubbery and your vegetation is more prone to fire if an ignition source is applied.”
McLaughlin says the warning is primarily directed to private firework shows. The official Canada Day celebrations have special fireworks and proper certifications, putting them at less of a risk.
“They have to pull a permit, and then what happens is not only are the fireworks inspected, they use a type of firework called a ‘display’ firework, which is a commercial firework that can only be set off by experts,” says McLaughlin.
These special fireworks provide a more professional show with far better results. Theyare far superior to anything you could purchase over the counter, according to McLaughlin. They also aren’t available to the public, requiring specific qualifications and certifications to handle and set-off.
“If you were trying to purchase ‘display’ fireworks, it would be extremely difficult,” says McLaughlin.
But for those who still wish to put on their own show, McLaughlin has a few safety tips, starting with finding the right seller.
“Purchase fireworks from a reputable business, and certainly not second-hand,” McLaughlin says.
Big fireworks aren’t the only risk, however, as McLaughlin also warns about letting young children have unsupervised access to sparklers.
“If you are going to use sparklers with young children make sure that you either partake with the child, or educate the child and make sure they completely understand what will happen should they touch the area that’s sparkling,” says McLaughlin.
The Fire Department also asks Londoners to ensure that some sort of extinguisher is close at hand, that fireworks be set off in a clear, open area, that they be used only by adults wearing protective gear, and that neighbours be respected by discharging fireworks no later than 11pm.
**This story was written by Samuel Gallant. Samuel is a student in the Fanshawe College broadcast journalism program. He is performing a summer internship with Blackburn News.**
