
Crowd watching fireworks/via 123rf
It appears a majority of Kamloopsians heeded a call from firefighters to ring in 2024 without fireworks.
While Kamloops Fire and Rescue did not issue any permits, due to lingering drought conditions, the odd pop of fireworks was still heard on Dec. 31.
“You’re always going to have those individuals that are going to have them and shoot them off regardless, but I think most people were pretty conscious of the conditions that we had,” Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc said.
“And then hearing from Environment Canada that it was the hottest and driest year on record for Kamloops, I think just goes to show we made the right choice.”
In all, Uzeloc says there were six complaints made to KFR and to Community Services Officers.
“There were no fires attributed to fireworks but nothing found when crews actually arrived at those locations,” he added. “Overall, I think a lot of people were actually pretty good about it.”
In early December, when KFR hinted at a ban on fireworks, Assistant Fire Chief Scott Johnson said people caught lighting, possessing, storing or selling unauthorized fireworks, could be fined $250.
Uzeloc says no fines were issued over New Year’s Eve.
In previous statements to Radio NL, Uzeloc warned that people could be fined thousands of dollars if the fireworks they set off result in a fire.
“It goes beyond that because quite frankly, if you have now done something that is illegal and not allowed, there is also a method we could look at, where you could be responsible for the costs of the whole response that is needed to deal with anything that might happen,” Uzeloc said.