Fireworks Time and Surrey’s New ByLaw

Comments 8 by Rebecca Bollwitt

There are two sounds heard downtown on occasion that remind me of suburbia-living: lawnmowers and firecrackers. Around this time of year it sounds just like you’re living in the ‘burbs with all the explosive warzone-like symphony of firecrackers and fireworks outside your window every night until Halloween (and these ain’t comin’ from a barge off English Bay).

I swear sometimes when I look over at John there’s a part of him that thinks it’s something more than a holiday flare that just combusted outside the window.



Photo credit: svacher on Flickr

When I was little, after Trick or Treating we’d always head across the street to my friend Anne’s house and bundle up on her front steps. Her dad would proceed to light one of the twenty fireworks that came in a variety pack and soon we’d be “Ooohing” and “Aaaahing” with every colourful mini-explosion. The roman candles were pretty cool and sparklers are a crowd favourite however, there was always one pyrotechnical wonder shaped like a schoolhouse that would never light properly and leave us feeling a little ripped off.

With a hefty $5,000 fine it could be rather expensive to have a similar experience in Surrey this year.

Fireworks in Surrey are outlawed for all except those who have federal certification. With Halloween coming this week, Surrey’s fire department is reminding residents that a bylaw passed this year makes it illegal to let off or sell fireworks in this city.
[Surrey Leader]

Do bottle rockets count as fireworks/crackers? Geez I hope so, and I bet my mom’s cat hopes so too. I bet it will be a nice break for Surrey residents anyway… downtown now, eh.

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8 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. JenniferMonday, October 29th, 2007 — 3:19pm PDT

    Oh my goodness, I HATE firecrackers! That’s the one thing about this time of year that drives me mental. First of all, I’m totally afraid of them (what I think may happen to me when kids across the street are letting them off, I’m not so sure)…but they terrify me nonetheless. The sound is just so annoying- and they seem really anticlimactic. At least fireworks look pretty.

  2. RodMonday, October 29th, 2007 — 3:39pm PDT

    They’re illegal out in Maple Ridge as well, but that doesn’t stop my idiot neighbour from lighting a few off each and every night from October 1st on.

    I’ll admit to lighting them off when I was a kid (both fireworks and firecrackers) and even had a cracker go off in my hand. Not really that disappointed to see them banned, though.

    They look nice when you do them right, but otherwise it’s just kind of, “meh.”

  3. bzMonday, October 29th, 2007 — 4:24pm PDT

    i hate fireworks too – but if there are those who persist, let em get busted, fined and have darwin work his magic.

  4. Paul HillsdonMonday, October 29th, 2007 — 10:59pm PDT

    Obviously, there’s only so far such a law can go, unless the police are out on full force, ready to capture and fine people. But, I can already tell the decision made a few years ago was a good one.

    I remember too some fond memories of the local cul-de-sac all coming out to enjoy fireworks. It was also a great way for teenagers to participate with families on Halloween. But there was always the scary moments, driving in the car through a cloud of smoke with firecrackers going off around you…

    It is interesting to come to Vancouver and see the fireworks shops everywhere, then return to Surrey and not have any. It has made a difference beyond just the official sale of fireworks, cause I barely hear any go off at all. All in all, a good policy move by Surrey City Council.

  5. JennyTuesday, October 30th, 2007 — 10:38am PDT

    It has made a HUGE difference. We used to hear fireworks going off all the time for weeks before and after halloween and I have yet to hear a single firework (knock on wood) so far this year and tomorrow is the day. To be honest though, I never really minded it. You used to see all those orange and black FIREWORKS for sale signs tapped to make shift shops opened up in empty retail space but not a single one this year.

  6. JAGFriday, October 31st, 2008 — 3:01pm PDT

    i think its so stupid how there banned. Its haloween people, common wheres all the fun gone from you guys. Like your supposed to blow firework and firecrackers today, you only get this day once a year. I think its pathetic how surrey’s banned them
    cant kids have a little fun, its not like we get this day often. What about all the people that live for haloween the little kids that wanna see some fireworks.
    straight up
    i think its
    STUPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPIDD !!!!

  7. djpTuesday, July 27th, 2010 — 2:41pm PDT

    i think that surrey should just make firecrackers/fireworks aloud on halloween just that 1 day for fun!

  8. jagTuesday, October 12th, 2010 — 8:03pm PDT

    it’s so stupid that fireworks/firecrakers are banned come one day come to see or blow and their banned.Whats even stupid is that their are no stupid firework shops in surrey like really people

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