News release

Let’s have safe fun for everyone this October 31

October 29, 2025 - Squamish, British Columbia
From: Squamish RCMP

Content

It’s that time of the year again, where anyone, little or tall, gets to celebrate and display creative costumes and home decor. Adults buy candy to distribute, and the littles collect the candy and bring their loot home back to their parents… (who benefits the most?).

How can we make this Hallowe’en fun and safe for everyone?

Personal safety

It goes beyond wearing colourful outfits, reflective costumes, and glow sticks. Carry a flashlight and consider face paint over masks to improve vision.

On the streets, avoid the danger of cars by crossing the street only once instead of doing the zigzag back and forth. Teach your littles to stay the on one side of the street until the last house and then cross the street to walk back and knock on the doors on other side of the street.

Teach your child the virtue of patience by checking that each piece of candy is properly wrapped and untampered with before they can eat it.

Fire-crackers and Fireworks

“The fire ban was lifted! We can light fireworks!” well… not exactly. While that may have been true in the past, times have changed. Squamish has banned Fireworks, effective  October 7, 2025. “But why????” You may ask. Here are some reasons:

Environmental impact

Wildlife and domestic animals

Many have witnessed their loyal companions, Fido or Garfield, hit the ground and scurry under beds and couches. They are not alone! Squamish is rich with wildlife. Imagine being perturbed from a restful nap or stroll in the forest by sudden loud explosives sounds, deathly frightening sparks, and bangers. Baloo the bear, Wile E. Coyote, Bambi, Rocky the racoon, eagles, etc.., must also find humans quite rude and inconsiderate.

Pollution

I don’t know about you but I particularly don’t enjoy walking across the empty firecracker and fireworks casing in the school yard and at the park. Not everyone adopts the “take out what you bring in” or “pick up after your dog” rules. But have you ever wondered what is in those firecrackers and fireworks anyway? We think about what we eat, the shampoo we use, we consider electric cars over gas (yes, there’s a debate about that too, but you get the point). But we don’t think twice about these single use, plastic, non-biodegradables, non recyclables items that end up in the landfill. The fact is, they are filled with dangerous chemical pollutants like Particulate matter, Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and metal salts exploding above our heads and homes, polluting our air and water streams and ending up in our food chain… Food for thoughts?

Property damages, injuries and fires

Fires, aggression, and mischief

Last year, Squamish experienced several significant fireworks-related incidents. Also, youths were setting off illegal fireworks, lighting fires, and behaving aggressively with the fireworks towards the City employees, property management employees, and even with police. Police seized bear spray and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). As reported in The Squamish Reporter, local youth caused $42,300 in property damage in Squamish alone.

Injuries

It’s no surprise that no matter how “careful” we are, mistakes and accidents happen. The most common injuries from firework are burns, followed by eye injuries. According to Canada.ca, a high percentage of injuries (28%) occurred when the firework exploded while in the person’s hands. The most frequent injury type was burn (61.5%) and the most affected body part was the head (39.7%).

Also, you might not be aware, but I have recently learned that EHS (Ambulances and Fire) in Coastal health region support each other. This means that the number of calls in Squamish, might in fact affect the help available in Whistler and Pemberton, and vice-vera.

Warning: Fines and criminal charges

Yes, there are repercussions to wrong choices. Your teenager might not be aware that lighting a firework given to them by their parent or friends might likely end up in not only fines for possession of fireworks, discharge, sale, storage, and distribution (yes that means you, providing the fireworks to your teenager), but also it can also lead to arrests and criminal charges for them and for you too. If your use of Fireworks, Firecrackers, or Improvised Explosive devices cause or contribute to injuries, damages, or a building fire, you may be on the hook for all firefighting and associated costs on top of Criminal charges, or Civil Action from the victims of your choices. (Yikes!)

Let’s have a fun and safe Hallowe’en for everyone… including your pocketbook. 

Contacts