BC declared a ban on fires, campfires and fireworks across most of the province last week as the danger for wildfires ratcheted up. But that prohibition may not put Powell River’s summer fireworks displays in jeopardy.
Minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations Steve Thomson announced the ban which began Friday, July 3. Areas of the South Coast, including Powell River, were already covered by a comprehensive ban.
“We’re committed to safeguarding BC’s families, natural resources and infrastructure from wildfires,” Thomson said in a statement. “Given the hot and dry conditions in most of the province, we are implementing this province-wide campfire ban to help protect our communities.”
With heightened risk, the Peak contacted Terry Peters Powell River Fire Rescue deputy fire chief, about the possibility that fireworks displays during Sea Fair and Blackberry Festival could be cancelled.
Peters said the City of Powell River has jurisdiction over permitting open fires and community fireworks displays. The city’s backyard burning bylaw prohibits the practice outside of the months of April and November. The fireworks bylaw (City of Powell River Bylaw 2359, 2013) prohibits residents from lighting fireworks, but permits community displays where adequate liability is in place and professionals have worked with the fire department to ensure safety.
Peters said that the fire department looks at each application on a case by case basis and tries to weigh the risks involved.
Sea Fair’s application is being looked at currently, he said, and with the display being set up on a barge over water and conducted by trained professionals with the input of the fire department, in all likelihood its application would be approved.
If the department does decide to permit the summer displays, it could ask the company putting on the show to move the barge farther away from Willingdon Beach to lessen risk, he added.
“There’s an awful lot of thought and effort and regulations put into it before anything would ever be lit,” he said.
