Ka-boom? City politicians consider complete ban on backyard fireworks

City politicians are mulling a complete ban on the sale and use of backyard fireworks, an overhaul of London’s existing bylaw that’s slated for more public consultation later this summer.

A new report by city staff is asking council to consider either a full ban on backyard fireworks or a slate of tightened rules, including increased penalties for violations and cutting the times they can be sold in the city.

The report also is recommending council’s corporate and protective services holds a public meeting on Aug. 15 so residents can weigh in.

“I’m mulling it over but looking forward to the public participation meeting,” committee member and Ward 7 Coun. Corrine Rahman said Thursday.

“I think there’s going to be an opportunity for further dialogue. I want to make sure that when we do this, we do it right and that people feel they’ve been heard.”

The report, which heads to the committee on Tuesday, lays out two possible options for the bylaw governing the use and sale of fireworks in London. The revamped rules would target both professional fireworks displays and the backyard variety.

The first option would allow Londoners to set off backyard fireworks for three days surrounding Victoria Day, Canada Day and Diwali, an Indian post-harvest festival. Backyard fireworks would be allowed between dusk and 11 pm

Under the first option, backyard fireworks could be sold in the city five days before the three specified dates. The current bylaw allows consumer fireworks to be sold a week before Victoria Day and Canada Day.

The second option is an outright ban on the use and sale of backyard fireworks in the city.

Committee member and Ward 5 Coun. Jerry Pribil said Thursday he is not interested in tightening London’s fireworks rules and questions whether city bylaw and fire officials have the capacity to ratchet up enforcement.

“If you add restrictions, you have to have a proper mechanism to enforce them, and I don’t think we’re in that situation,” he said.

Pribil said the current firework bylaw is working and would rather see enforcement devoted to more pressing issues.

Both options pitched by city staff would allow professional fireworks displays by permit only. The displays would be allowed on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali and New Year’s Eve, but could include other days, the report said.

Rahman commended city staff for including cultural holidays in the report, but said she wants to hear from Londoners from diverse backgrounds if there are days they want to see listed in the bylaw.

City staff also are proposing an increase in municipal fines for firework bylaw violations. Under the current rules, a first-time offender can be slapped with a fine of up to $5,000 with the penalty reaching a maximum of $10,000 for repeat violations.

The specific increase to municipal fines recommended by city staff was not listed.

The recommendations are the culmination of months of work by city staff. City hall collected input from residents on its firework policies from last June to September in an online survey that attracted about 2,300 responses.

About 41 per cent respondents said they would support a complete ban on fireworks, while 50 per cent said they were not supportive and about eight per cent were unsure.

About 56 per cent of respondents said they would support a ban on fireworks that were not part of displays on specific dates at organized events.

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