Fireworks discussion up in the air

“Fireworks used to be something special, they’re not anymore. In the north end of Yarmouth, I hear them on almost a nightly basis now. It is getting out of hand and there’s really no need of it.” Gil Dares Town of Yarmouth councillor

Who is shooting off fireworks?”

It's a familiar question you often see posted on social media in the Town of Yarmouth when people are caught off guard by the noise.

It happens on special occasions. On holidays. But it also happens on any random day of the week and it can be any random hour after darkness settles in – 10 p.m., 11 p.m., midnight, 2 a.m., etc.

The Town of Yarmouth is looking into the issue of fireworks. At its December monthly council meeting, town council approved a motion directing staff to investigate the issue of fireworks, with a focus on locations and times.

The issue of fireworks was also discussed at council's November committee of the whole meeting.

But when the issue came up on council's Jan. 27 committee of the whole meeting – namely a motion on the agenda that read: ‘To recommend that the Town of Yarmouth abolish fireworks within town limits' – things did not move in that direction.

“I would never make or second it as it's worded,” Coun. Wade Cleveland said about the motion that appeared on the agenda. “But I do believe we need to investigate.”

While he stated that he doesn't have a particular problem with fireworks, he knows it has been an issue for others, especially pet owners.

It's not unusual to see social media posts about animals who have been scared or spooked by fireworks. Some have gotten loose and run away. For some, it's days before they're found. And some have been injured so badly while being spooked that they've had to be put down.

Cleveland said last summer the town “certainly had a problem” with purchased fireworks being set off at all hours of the night. He agrees it is an issue that should be looked into.

He also suggested more investigation should be done into silent fireworks.

“But I certainly wouldn't recommend that we abolish fireworks altogether,” Cleveland said.

During previous discussions in recent months about fireworks being shot off in the town, it's been noted that a problem is the close proximity of residences in the town.

“We're in such close quarters,” Mayor Pam Mood had said during a previous meeting. This, she said, can contribute to something going wrong.

Not only has it been an issue for people's pets, she said, but she's also heard from a couple of veteran's families who say it triggers PTSD.

“We're not talking about

World War One or Two, we're talking about Afghanistan,” she said.

“It's the things we don't think about,” she said, about the impact fireworks can have on others.

It's been discussed that fireworks can also be a nuisance for people trying to sleep, as they can happen at all times of the night.

“I'm thinking that lately it seems as though people celebrate the second Tuesday of every month, along with the second Wednesday and the third Thursday,” said Coun. Gil Dares during a previous council discussion.

“Fireworks used to be something special, they're not anymore,” he said. “In the north end of Yarmouth, I hear them on almost a nightly basis now. It is getting out of hand and there's really no need of it.”

Coun. Belle Hatfield noted in a previous discussion that for some people fireworks are part of their cultural celebrations. So that needs to be a consideration.

There is also the issue of enforcement, she said, if a ban or restrictions were put in place, how would that be done?

During a previous meeting, Hatfield had said she was on the fence on this issue. She said her instinct is always to create the least amount of impediments for people to enjoy themselves, but she also said she recognized that fireworks have become a more constant issue within the town.

Deputy Mayor Steve Berry also stated previously that examining the issue of fireworks is not a bad idea.

“I think this is a good idea to look into. It's starting to be a problem,” he said, also noting in the summer when burn bans exist in the province that those bans apply to fireworks too and that it's important that people heed those bans.

When council spoke about the issue of the fireworks at its December meeting, it was stated the investigation by town staff will include both fireworks that people can purchase through retail outlets, and also organized fireworks held by the town on special occasions, like Canada Day for instance.

Festivals also sometimes incorporate fireworks in their events. At the Jan. 27 committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Heather Hatfield said she hopes whatever direction council takes – if it takes one at all – that it won't prevent events like the Parade of

Lights in the harbour from taking place again in the future. That event, she said, was good for residents and for tourism.

The task of investigating the issue of fireworks has been given to the town's fire chief, who will come back with recommendations.

Chief Mike Deveau has noted there are provincial and federal regulations that apply to fireworks that he would provide more information on. He noted stand-off distances are one of the issues regulations point to, which includes proximity to other buildings, tall grass, etc.

That could prevent the use of fireworks in a lot of places in the town, he said.

A report and recommendations from the fire chief will come back to a future council session.