Safety tips for Labour Day fireworks fun at home in Saskatoon

For those wanting an explosive Labour Day without leaving home, you’re in luck — Monday is one of the few days this year when you can set off fireworks.

From dusk until 11 p.m. on Sept. 7, people can discharge low-hazard fireworks on private property in Saskatoon.

Read more:

To qualify as low-hazard, which are designed for recreational use, the fireworks must travel less than 50 metres, or 160 ft. This includes sparklers, wheels, Roman candles, volcanoes, and mines and snakes.

In comparison, “high-hazard fireworks are designed for professionals and can only be purchased by persons holding a valid Fireworks Supervisor – Level I or Level II card,” according to a media release from the City of Saskatoon.

That would include the types of fireworks used in the Nutrien Fireworks Festival on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Discharging fireworks also comes with a long list of rules to follow.

This includes ensuring the location is free of overhead obstructions, safe from combustible materials, and not windy. People also need to keep a safe distance.

Relighting or fixing the fuse on fireworks that failed to go off is a no-go, as is holding a lit firework in your hand — unless it’s a sparkler.

Additionally, people under 18 cannot use fireworks, and users must wait at least 30 minutes before cleaning up. Once enough time has passed, it’s recommended that you throw out used fireworks and debris in a pail of water.

Saskatoon Fire Department safety tips for fireworks include:

Carefully read and observe the manufacturer instructions.
Be careful when handling or setting off any type of fireworks.
Pick your location carefully, as fireworks can only be set off on private property.
Learn about the space requirements for the type of fireworks being used, as requirements vary depending on the firework type.
Check the launch site for overhead obstructions and ensure it is far away from combustible materials.
Make sure it is not windy and that all spectators are safely positioned to observe the display.
Properly secure the fireworks for launch, following manufacturer’s instructions.
Other than sparklers, never light or hold a lit firework in your hand.
Always light the fuse at its tip.
Never try to relight or fix the fuse on fireworks that do not go off.
Have water available to extinguish debris or smouldering embers before they cause an injury or spark a fire.

Read more: