A video circulating on social media shows what appears to be a bright red flare cascading down between some high-rise buildings in Vancouver's Yaletown neighbourhood.
Several Vancouver residents say they spotted the flare being thrown from a Yaletown building on Monday (March 14) night. The video shoes the flare slowly moving towards the ground, leaving a trail of smoke behind it. It is unclear where the flare landed, however, a red glow illuminates the surrounding buildings after it disappears from view.
Vancouver Police Const. Tania Vistintin told Vancouver Is Awesome that the VPD did not receive any reports of the flare and it is difficult to ascertain what is happening from the video.
But someone could be charged for discharging a flare depending on the intent of the circumstances.
If a flare is thrown at someone, charges of assault or assault causing bodily harm could be recommended. If a flare is thrown at a building and it causes damage, mischief charges could be recommended, explained Visintin.
A person does not have to have a firearms license to possess a flare; they are classified as firearms for purposes of the Firearms Act. But if a flare is used for the purposes of committing a crime, it is then classified as a firearm for purposes of the Criminal Code, according to the RCMP.
Call 911 if you see a flare discharged in the city
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Pierre Morin told V.I.A. that discharging a flare in a situation like this poses a significant fire hazard. Further, these devices should be used exclusively for signalling or notifying distress.
"It is signalling [an] emergency so it is like crying wolf," he said, adding that it would be unlikely a person would discharge one from a residential building to signify an emergency.
If you see someone discharging a flare, or see one in the city, call 911 immediately. Flares continue to burn long after they are set off and pose a fire hazard.
Morin noted that they are "essentially fireworks" and can cause similar amounts of damage. In 2019, Vancouver Fire and Rescue reported over 360,000 worth of damages caused by fireworks over Halloween weekend alone.
Another individual shared an image of a flare that was discharged in East Vancouver in 2021.
