No way to dampen fireworks, says Mount Pearl councillor

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl councillor Jim Locke, in council’s first public meeting of the new year, said members of council and staff have received calls from residents, as they do every year, complaining about fireworks, and in particular fireworks being set off outside the regulated time period from dusk until 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s.

Loud fireworks have known to distress pets and people sensitive to loud noises.

“Every year, there is a demand that we ban, or somehow regulate, fireworks,” said Locke, who said municipal enforcement of the city’s fireworks bylaw is largely impossible and any wide-reaching firework regulations would need to be imposed by the provincial government.

Locke floated some potential ideas, such as only municipalities being allowed to set off fireworks or the provincial government limiting the sale of fireworks, which he admitted would impact local businesses who sell fireworks.

“It’s a tough one to regulate,” admitted Locke, who allowed fireworks are less of a concern in rural areas because folks have bigger lots and are more spread out.

Councillor Mark Rice said pet owners ask him when fireworks are permitted, but the problem is that some people set off fireworks outside the permitted time frame.

He made reference to a report on Facebook that a greyhound had died on New Year’s due to heart failure because of loud fireworks in St. John’s.

He said residents in Admiralty Wood had joined together to shoot fireworks off in a nearby field rather than from individual backyards as a safety precaution (in the past, embers have flown onto rooftops.)

Rice said he heard fireworks being set off as early as 4 p.m. and as late as 3 a.m.

“Municipal enforcement will never control it, I agree one hundred percent,” said Rice. “So, I would like to see more guidelines, and more conversation around this.”

Councillor Chelsea Lane said she had a number of residents ask why the City does not put off a display of it’s own, as some municipalities do.

Recreation Director Jason Collins explained that, due to population density, elevation, and prevailing winds, it’s hard to find a safe location to set off fireworks.

“We have explored laser shows over the years, and even recently a drone show, and that’s possible for the future, but right now there’s no one locally to do that, so for now it’s cost-prohibitive,” said Collins.

Councillor Isabelle Fry said she too had concerns this year, as folks in her neighbourhood were shooting off fireworks from a playground close to her home.

“It’s difficult (to regulate), unless residents report other residents, but of course you don’t want to be encouraging neighbours to tell on neighbours, so it is the kind of thing that requires a bigger discussion,” said Fry.

The problem is not isolated to Mount Pearl —across the pond, the UK parliament last week debated a new Fireworks Bill that would ban the public sale of fireworks above a certain decibel level.