The topic seems to come up every Halloween – should fireworks be banned in Squamish?
Some residents are worried fireworks scare their pets and other animals, while parents sometimes lament that the explosions keep their kids up at night.
But, on the other hand, others look forward to the annual celebration around Halloween.
Lucky for these people, fireworks will not be banned in Squamish like they are in certain areas of the Lower Mainland, including the City of North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and Maple Ridge.
In Squamish, fireworks are only allowed on three days a year – Halloween, New Year’s Eve and Diwali. Anyone lighting fireworks must apply for a free permit.
“This decision was made in recognition of the fact that ban or not, fireworks will be set off. The District has successfully managed to limit this practice to three occasions per year,” said Rachel Boguski, District of Squamish communications coordinator, told The Chief.
“Requiring a fireworks permit gives the District some ability to control how they are used. It also helps to ensure that citizens are setting them off in a responsible manner by agreeing to the terms and conditions of use, therefore establishing an opportunity to communicate important safety procedures and guidelines directly with the permit holder.”
The District receives a few complaints about fireworks each Halloween, primarily in relation to the impact that noise has on dogs, Boguski said.
