Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) is reporting thousands of dollars in damages from fires caused by fireworks on Halloween this year.
While the total damages worked out to be significantly less than in years prior, firefighters received over 70 complaints from around the city, according to VFRS spokesperson Matthew Trudeau.
"Our Prevention Inspectors were overwhelmed [by] numerous occurrences," he told Vancouver Is Awesome.
Around 10 a.m. on Halloween day this year, VFRS tweeted that they would be patrolling neighbourhoods in the evening and responding to complaints submitted to the city's 311 service. They added that they would issue fines for people using fireworks in the city as no one had applied for permits and therefore "all fireworks are illegal."
Fire crews around Vancouver patrolled their fire districts with two groups of two Fire Prevention Inspectors as well as the Fire Chief.
"The lack of Inspectors available made the night challenging [for] a historically underfunded and under-resourced group," added Trudeau.
In order to address the city's minimum operational needs for fire safety and enforcement, the VFRS requires "significant increases" to its support divisions, he noted.
In spite of the lack of inspectors, the ones who were on duty attended "numerous" areas of the city, such as parks and schools, and successfully deterred groups from setting off fireworks. The groups "quickly dispersed" when the inspectors approached them.
Many neighbourhood residents showed appreciation for the fire inspectors who dispersed the crowds, said Trudeau.
In total, this year's damages from fires caused by fireworks worked out to $45,000. Last year, this figure was dramatically lower, at only $10,000. In years past, however, the total dollar amount was significantly higher, with VFRS reporting a staggering $360,000 in damages in 2019.
While the City of Vancouver's fireworks ban came into effect on Nov. 1, 2020, there has been noisy theatrics each Halloween following the ban -- as well as damages.
Numerous locals took to social media to share images and videos of fireworks in their neighbourhoods. The loud booms and crackling pops were heard at all hours. People shared videos of sparkling spectacles over English Bay, residential areas, downtown, and more.
