Tips to help keep your trick or treaters safer this Halloween

October 24, 2024

Public Service Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2024

The Kelowna Fire Department (KFD) and the Kelowna RCMP have teamed up this year to offer some spooktacular Halloween safety tips to make this year’s trick or treating celebrations both fun and safe for everyone in our community.

Halloween home and community safety tips:

Choose a costume that is bright, visible and without long trailing fabric that could catch flame
Provide children with flashlights and/or glow sticks, so that passing cars can easily see them.
Stick to the sidewalk. Do not jaywalk. Stay to one side of the street at a time.
Have an adult or an older teenager accompany young children when trick-0r-treating.
Keep all decorations away from open flames, especially dried flowers, crepe paper, cornstalks and hay bales.Use a battery-operated candle in your jack-o-lantern.
Ensure your home’s exits remain visible and are clear of any obstruction by Halloween decorations.
Ensure that any weapons included as part of a costume are easily identified as fake.
If your child is wearing a mask, ensure that it does not block their vision or limit sightlines.
Teach children to stop, drop, and roll if their costume catches fire.
Test all smoke alarms in your home to ensure that they are functioning properly.
Parents and guardians should check all candy before it is consumed by children. Any candy wrappers that have been damaged or tampered with should be discarded.

This year, Halloween celebrations also coincide with Diwali – the Hindu festival of lights – occurring between October 29 to November 3rd. As these festivities are often celebrated with fireworks in some parts of the world, the KFD would like to remind residents that firecrackers and all other unauthorized recreational use of fireworks is not allowed within the City of Kelowna.

“There are very few urban centers in BC that still allow permits for recreational fireworks,” said Paul Johnson, Fire Prevention Officer with the KFD. “Not only is the unauthorized use of fireworks a danger to inexperienced operators and those observing, but it also poses a significant fire risk to surrounding trees, grasses, and dry areas.”

Fireworks may only be used by a licensed operator who has undergone a strict permitting process that is officially vetted through Kelowna’s fire department. The Fire Department, RCMP or a Bylaw Officer could issue bylaw tickets for setting off fireworks. To date, no one has submitted a fireworks permit application, and no permits have been issued. The permit process ensures that only fireworks operators who are licensed by the Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada are legally allowed to set off the fireworks. The permit process also ensures that ample insurance is provided. Persons caught setting off fireworks within City limits are subject to a minimum fine of $250 which may be issued as a bylaw offence notice by the KFD.

LOOKING FOR SAFE FAMILY HALLOWEEN FUN? Families looking for a fun, free and safe way to celebrate Halloween are invited to the annual Family Monster Bash on Sunday, Oct. 27 at MNP Place. From 1-4 p.m., families can enjoy all kinds of activities, including a bouncy house, Halloween-themed games, face painting, Zorb soccer, free skating and much more. It's Halloween fun for the whole family!

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For more information, contact:

Paul Johnson
Fire Prevention Officer
Kelowna Fire Department
250-469-8761
pjohnson@kelowna.ca

Tom Wilson
Communications Manager
250-469-8663
@cityofkelowna

Communications
1435 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J4
250-469-8663
X / Twitter: @cityofkelowna.ca