Fireworks bylaw passes first reading

The “free-for-all” when it comes to fireworks in Red Deer is set to come to an end.

City Council gave first reading to the new Fireworks Bylaw on Monday. It comes as Red Deer has been without a municipal bylaw governing pyrotechnics for the past four months after the province chose to be regulated by the National Fire Code instead of its own provincial code that had been in place since 1984. This left municipalities to come up with their own regulations.

The new bylaw will regulate the use of fireworks including display fireworks used by professionals (ex. Canada Day), pyrotechnics (ex. stage shows, movies) and consumer fireworks.

A fireworks permit will be required to discharge display, pyrotechnic and consumer fireworks to ensure public safety.