Happy Canada Day: How to be safe with fireworks at home

It’s Canada Day, which means fireworks will be lighting up the night sky.

While many people will be heading to watch a public fireworks show, some may opt host their own fireworks display at home.

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Ryan Bradley, Fire Marshal with the Saskatoon Fire Department, said there are plenty of safe ways to enjoy a home display.

“Make sure that you have a strong sturdy base when you’re lighting your fireworks,” he said.

“If they need to be buried in some sand or some dirt, then plan the order in which you’re going to fire those fireworks.”

Bradley also suggested having a fire extinguisher and a water bucket on hand as well.

If considering letting off fireworks on a lawn, Bradley had some tips.

“Something like ground fireworks are going to be very hard on the grass,” he said.

“If it’s up in the air you want to make sure it’s sturdy, it’s not going to tip over … maybe a piece of wood would be a good base and to make sure that they are secured to that.”

Bradley said if the fireworks are just sitting on a piece of wood they are more likely to fall over and shoot off in unwanted directions.

Weather can also play a big part.

“Wind, even though it isn’t supposed to be windy tomorrow (in Saskatoon), there is a slight breeze,” said Bradley.

The weather in Regina is forecast to be clear and warm, with a light northerly breeze.

When it comes to being a safe distance away from fireworks, Bradley said it can vary.

“The recommended distance for a ground firework, such as a mine, is about a 20-metre radius,” he said. “For an aerial firework, or something like a Roman candle, it would be a 30-metre radius.”

Bradley said people should be aware of any overhead debris when shooting off fireworks.

“Make sure that overhead (there’s) no power lines, (and) no trees that are going to cause a problem,” he said. “It’s always recommended that you angle the fireworks at a 10-degree angle.”

There are some safety courses for working with fireworks, but they are mainly for organizations.

“There’s definitely a course for what they call high-hazard or display fireworks,” said Bradley. “Those ones that you’ll see at the Exhibition or the ones that you’ll see tomorrow down at Rotary Park (in Saskatoon).”

Bradley also had some advice on what to do if a small fire is started by fireworks at home.

“Make sure that you’re notifying 911. If it’s a small ember and can be extinguished with your pail of water go ahead and do so,” he said.

“Make sure you keep a good eye on it for any flare ups that occur after, and if a firework doesn’t go off or it doesn’t light properly, leave it alone for about 30 minutes.”

Personal fireworks can only be discharged from private property unless a permit has been acquired saying otherwise.

When using fireworks, people should also:

Carefully read and follow the manufacturer instructions.
Always light the fuse at its tip.
Never try to relight or fix the fuse on fireworks that did not go off.
Be aware the users are solely responsible for any debris that may land on spectators or another’s property.

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