Fireworks remain prohibited inside municipal areas of the mid-Island, however the RDN offers much more latitude for homemade displays. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

LIGHTS OUT

Mixed bag of fireworks bans across central Island makes for challenging enforcement landscape

Oct 28, 2022 | 4:25 PM

NANAIMO — Rains and cooler temperatures may have lifted seasonal fire bans in the region, but the legality of fireworks remains heavily fragmented across the central Island.

Fireworks are prohibited inside city limits in Nanaimo and Parksville, while residents in the Town of Qualicum Beach get the green light on Monday, Oct. 31 only. Most regions of the Regional District are less regulated when it comes to homemade light shows.

Sgt. Shane Worth with the Oceanside RCMP said it makes for a very difficult environment.

“Our first level for most things is to educate people what the rules are,” Worth told NanaimoNewsNOW. “That’s very challenging at Halloween time for us to go based on education, but for the most part we just seize fireworks that are illegally possessed and that’s usually their punishment.”

Changes earlier this week from the Coastal Fire Centre gave permission to hold larger fires and use fireworks, however, their rules don’t trump local bylaws.

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Worth said they’ll have some enhanced enforcement out over the weekend prior to and on Monday evening.

“It’s usually a lot busier for us when Halloween falls on a weekend. Because Halloween this year is so close to a weekend, we do anticipate some parties and festivities to be occurring this weekend.”

He added it’s a good idea to keep pets inside wherever possible and ensure any outdoor animals such as farm animals, are secure and safe.

In Nanaimo, despite a pretty rigid ban, sparks still fly.

Reserve RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said officers are kept very busy in the lead-up to Halloween and the night itself.

“We have seen multiple injures, we’ve seen fires, we’ve seen damage to property so our members will proactively try and make these seizures but they’re also complaint driven.”

The main issue around fireworks for the mid-Island is the ease of access for city residents, with fireworks readily available in smaller RDN communities.

“People go outside the city limits and they purchase the fireworks, then bring them back into the city expecting to light them off,” O’Brien said. “If you expect to be walking through city streets with fireworks or fire crackers in your hand, you can expect to be charged or have a seizure of those.”

Despite attempts made in the summer, the RDN does not have any plans to regulate fireworks further and points to bylaws in its member municipalities, or provincial fireworks regulations in place for residents in Cedar, Extension or Gabriola Island.

Tom Armet, RDN manager of building and bylaw said fireworks fall under their own bylaw jurisdiction and can’t be managed by noise or nuisance rules.

In a widespread, mostly rural area, the challenge of enforcement is massive to overcome.

“They’re usually done at night time when people can see them and we don’t have staff to respond at night time or go through the process of enforcing.”

Permits to light off legally in both Nanaimo and Parksville can be obtained through the city’s fire chief, but both departments reported no such permits had been issued as of earlier this week.

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