Fireworks Pose Serious Risk

Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Office of the Fire Marshal	Ministère de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services correctionnels Bureau du commissaire des incendies
Place Nouveau Building 7th Floor 5775 Yonge Street North York ON M2M 4J1 Telephone 416-325-3100 Facsimile: 416-325-3162	Édifice Place Nouveau 7^eétage 5775 rue Yonge North York ON M2M 4J1 Téléphone: 416-325-3100 Télécopieur: 416-325-3162

TORONTO - June 27, 2007 – To minimize the risk of fire and burn injuries caused by fireworks this Canada Day weekend, Ontario Fire Marshal Pat Burke is urging Ontario residents to attend fireworks displays hosted by their local municipalities.

“Many municipalities host fireworks displays with experts who are trained to handle and discharge fireworks safely,” says Burke. “For everyone else, fireworks can be extremely dangerous. For this reason, family fireworks or informal neighbourhood displays are not recommended.”

For those still choosing to have family fireworks or informal neighbourhood displays, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) has developed a Fireworks Safety Tips sheet. Important safety precautions such as carefully reading and following the directions on fireworks packaging, keeping a water hose or pail of water available, never giving sparklers to young children and appointing one adult to be in charge of discharging fireworks are some of the OFM’s tips to ensure fireworks are safe for everyone.

Other important fireworks safety tips include: discharging fireworks in an open area away from buildings, trees and dry grass; lighting only one firework at a time; never trying to light a firework in your hand and keeping onlookers a safe distance away.

“Canada Day is a time for celebration, not tragedy,” continued Burke. “The best way to enjoy fireworks is to attend one of the many spectacular displays hosted by municipalities throughout Ontario.”

The Fireworks Safety Tips sheet may be viewed and/or saved from the OFM Web site at: www.ofm.gov.on.ca.

For more information, or to request an interview with the Fire Marshal, contact:
Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138
Bev Gilbert, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3178