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By Victor Kaisar

No Fireworks For You

City of Kamloops mulling bylaw changes to ban consumer sale and use of fireworks

Aug 26, 2025 | 5:39 AM

KAMLOOPS — An updated Fire Prevention Bylaw that will seek to eliminate the consumer sale and use of fireworks within municipal limits is expected to go before Kamloops city council for its input in the near future.

Kamloops Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc said if the changes are approved, it doesn’t mean there won’t be any fireworks shows allowed in the city.

“[Fireworks shows] would still be open to anyone who wanted to do it. You would have to get a permit and you would have to use a professionally trained fireworks technician,” Uzeloc said. “That the difference.”

“The smallest firework that I’ve seen says you need a 10-by-10 square metre non-combustible area and most people’s yards aren’t that big. If you’re shooting those off, they’re generally going to land in somebody else’s yard or on a roof and it’s just not a practice that we feel is safe.”

While the personal use of fireworks is already not permitted in Kamloops city limits, the current Fire Prevention Bylaw allows for the sale and use of fireworks in the weeks leading up to Halloween and New Year’s Day, as long as Kamloops Fire Rescue grants that permission.

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There is also a provision in the existing bylaw that allows the fire chief to approve the use of fireworks outside of those two windows. It’s how the Canada Day shows can take place, unless its deemed unsafe due to weather conditions.

Uzeloc told CFJC Today that while there has been a gradual decline in the number of people lighting their own fireworks over the last few years, there are still instances when KFR has had to respond. There was one such call on Grasslands Boulevard this year.

“We had a couple of reports of illegal fireworks on Canada Day this year and there was the one fire,” he said. “Unfortunately, it ties up a lot of resources going to these things where you’re doing something that is illegal and the taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for that.”

“I think if you’re breaking a bylaw or regulation, you should be held accountable to pay for the response that is needed to deal with that kind of event.”

According to Uzeloc, the person who did this year’s Canada Day fireworks show in Kamloops had fire protection systems and staff on scene in case something went wrong.

“A couple little fallout fires started and they were on them right away and had them out,” Uzeloc said. “They patrol and watch for things and that’s what makes the show enjoyable for everybody.”

“Even as the wind picked up this year, he fired a couple of test shots to make sure it was safe before the show continued. That’s the kind of accountability we expect from people who are using something that could have a disastrous result.”

It’s not clear when city council will be asked for input, as Uzeloc told CFJC staff are working with legal counsel to finalize the changes before the amended bylaw is put on the docket.

“That provision [for consumer sale and use of fireworks] will be taken out to say no fireworks period,” Uzeloc said. “That’s what we’re hoping to do. That’s what we’re hoping council will support.”

“That is something that is in alignment with the fire chiefs association not only in B.C. but in Canada and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, as well.

While the city’s current Fire Prevention Bylaw has been in effect since 2013, Uzeloc noted very few people came forward to apply for the necessary permits before they set off fireworks.

“This is the result of people who are not trained and are not following manufacturers recommendations, and for the most part aren’t doing it on the their own property,” Uzeloc said.

“Anybody could go and buy them and you didn’t need a licence to buy and shoot fireworks. You didn’t have that responsibility and that accountability and that’s the problem.”