Saskatoon Fire Department shares Diwali fireworks safety tips

As Diwali celebrations take place Sunday, the Saskatoon Fire Department is reminding all revelers to think about safety when lighting fireworks.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is frequently marked by fireworks displays. The fire department said low-hazard fireworks — which travel less than 50 metres high — are permitted on private property between dusk and 11 p.m. on Sunday. Permitted fireworks include Roman candles, sparklers, fountains, wheels, volcanoes, mines and snakes.

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High-hazard fireworks, on the other hand, can only be purchased by someone holding a valid fireworks supervisor card issued by Natural Resources Canada the fire department said.

To ensure that celebrations don’t end in a fire, the department advised revelers to carefully read and follow the instructions on their fireworks, choose a location that’s free of overhead obstructions and combustible material, and be mindful of the wind. Spectators should be positioned in a safe area as well, the fire department added.

“Be sure to properly stabilize the firework according to manufacturer direction,” the Saskatoon Fire Department said in a statement. “Other than sparklers, never light or hold a lit firework in your hand.”

Fuses should be lit at their tips, the fire department advised, and no attempt should be made to fix a fuse or relight a firework that doesn’t go off.

“Have a supply of water available and use it to extinguish debris or smouldering embers before they cause injuries, property damage and/or fires,” the fire department said.

“Keep in mind that you are solely responsible for any debris that may land on spectators or another’s property.”