Goobie says fireworks cancelled due to protocol

By Mark Squibb

Holyrood Mayor Gary Goobie says people have been asking him why the Town did not go ahead with last Sunday evening’s Squidfest fireworks despite the provincial fire ban having been lifted the previous day.

“And I explain to them that there is a process that has to be followed,” the mayor said. “Our recreation director has to make application to the Province and have it approved, and when he made application the fire ban was on… and it was rejected. So, even though the ban was lifted, he couldn’t turn around and call the company and say, ‘Come on in now, the ban is lifted, we’ll go ahead with the fireworks,’ because he then has to go and re-apply.”

Following Tuesday’s meeting, several new fire bans, including a ban for Holyrood, and one for the municipalities covered by the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, were reimposed due to dry conditions.