Provincial Fire Administration won’t ruin firework fun

Times Contributor 

 

The Chief Fire Administrator for Safety Services of Alberta Municipal Affairs wants to reassure people that they are not looking to prohibit the use of fireworks, but rather improve how they are used for safe enjoyment.

There are two classifications of fireworks; one is ‘low hazard,’ those sold by retailers to the public for personal use; and ‘high hazard’ which are fireworks professionally set and discharged by fireworks cannons. 

“The changes we are proposing are intended to provide clarity to the public, retailers and municipalities, so that low hazard (family) fireworks can be enjoyed safely, wherever the local municipality has determined that they wish the activity to occur,” said Kevan Jess, Chief Fire Administrator.

The revised code will clarify a municipality’s authority over the process by the establishment of bylaws concerning permits and sales. Users will obtain purchase and discharge permits. Jess said in the past, there was some confusion over whose jurisdiction the process fell under, depending on the relationship of fire departments and their municipal counterparts.

He said the majority of changes will be centered on low hazard fireworks.

“In response to a request for a province wide ban of fireworks by the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs conducted a professional telephone survey of Albertans in 2008. The results of this survey showed Albertans were divided on the issue with a slight majority (54 per cent) in support of continuing to allow the use of low-hazard fireworks,” said Jess. 

With little supporting evidence that increased injury levels were caused by low hazard fireworks, it was considered that each municipality could use their discretion to set conditions for use or ban their use. Jess said the lack of injury documentation is because most injuries would be reported to Alberta Health Services, and they have no recording mechanism in place to track injuries specifically caused by fireworks. The fire risk statistics are more easily obtained, but there is not necessarily consistency in reporting practises. 

He said the new revisions will make contact information available to local fire wardens, so if there is a fire hazard or fire ban in place, the warden can follow up with those that have purchased permits, to ensure they are aware of hazardous conditions. Users will also get some educational information at the time of purchase on safe practises. 

Jess said there will be little change to high-hazard regulation.

Distributors and wholesalers will obtain provincial permission for distribution rights, with the Chief Fire Administrator for the province developing relationships with them, for better communication on safety frameworks for safe storage, distribution and other matters related to fireworks.  It will help ensure safety measures and eliminate oversights in the wholesale distribution of fireworks in or to Alberta.

 “The Chief Fire Administrator and the Fire Technical Sub-council are working with stakeholders regarding their concerns to ensure that no restrictions, which are unrelated to ensuring public safety, are put in place as a result of Code revisions,” said Jess.

The revisions are expected to be in place in the spring of 2014.

“We are also working with the wholesale and retail fireworks distributors and to provide for a reasonable transition period after the code adoption, for further education of retailers before these changes take effect, “said Jess.

Anyone with questions or needing further information can contact Kevan  D. Jess, 

Chief Fire Administrator, Safety Services, Alberta Municipal Affairs Public Safety, 16th Floor, Commerce Place 10155 – 102 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4L4 1-866-421-6929.