Celebration Season is Here

Holiday season is here, and Beaumont Fire Services is sharing some tips to keep the community safe. Whether residents are celebrating Diwali, Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s or any other festive celebration, there are many ways to stay safe and fire smart during the holiday season. 

Fireworks safety  

Lighting or setting off fireworks in Beaumont is not allowed and can result in large fines under Schedule A of the Fire Services Bylaw. The only exception is a display by a licensed pyrotechnician with a valid permit issued by the City of Beaumont.

Ways to add sparkle without the risk 

Consider these alternatives to add some spark to your celebrations to keep your family and neighbours safe this holiday season: 

• Glowsticks and LED fibre-optic wands: These are handy stand-ins for sparklers and fireworks. Glowsticks also make for a good indoor dance party. 
• Party poppers and noisemakers: You can still get the pop without the bang that scares pets and wildlife! If you use confetti poppers outside, choose biodegradable ones. If using them inside, keep a vacuum handy. 
• Glow-in-the-dark bubble party: All you need is black lights, UV bubble solution and LED bubble wands or machines, available at party stores and online. 
• Balloon drop: A ceiling balloon drop is an easy way to make an indoor countdown feel like a big deal. 
• Light projectors and LED light displays: Projectors add colour and fun, festive designs inside or outside. If you’re looking to make a bigger splash, choreographed LED light displays can sync to music and, unlike fireworks, can be reprogrammed and used for other events and celebrations. 

Other holiday fire safety tips 

It’s also important to keep holiday fire safety in mind this time of year, as additional risks can be more common this time of year: 

• Use flameless candles, LED lanterns and LED diyas: Battery-operated candles, LED lanterns and diyas produce the same warm glow without the fire risk. 
• Check your lights and decor: Look for a CSA, cUL, or cETL certification mark, and toss anything with frayed cords, loose connections or broken sockets. 
• Avoid sparklers: While sparklers are popular, especially around New Year’s, they can cause burns or other injuries and ignite if they come into contact with clothing or other materials.  
• Safe holiday cooking: Cooking fires tend to spike on big holidays. Use timers, check food often and stay in the kitchen when cooking or baking. Keep a large lid nearby to smother grease fires and keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, too. 
• Water fresh trees daily: Dry trees catch fire easily and should be watered daily. Get rid of your tree once you are done with it or it is dead. The City of Beaumont offers free Christmas tree drop-off at the Operations yard in January each year. 
• Keep trees away from heat: Whether you have an artificial or real tree, keep all trees at least one metre away from heat sources that could be a fire risk. 
• Power down to reduce risk: Unplug and turn off trees, lights and decor when you leave the house or go to bed. 

For more holiday safety tips and resources, visit the NFPA website.