House fires spur Edmonton councillor's upcoming motion to revamp fireworks bylaws

An Edmonton city councillor wants the city to look into tightening and enhancing fireworks bylaws, after police said two homes were burned last month during Diwali celebrations.

Ward Karhiio Coun. Keren Tang intends to present a motion to city council Monday that, if passed, would have city administration develop recommendations to improve proactive communications around the use and sale of fireworks, and suggest options to address the unsafe purchase and discharge of fireworks.

It would also get administration to look into the possibility of piloting a community Diwali fireworks show in 2026.

“On the communication front, I think the city could be much more direct and more firm around the language we use. We have a lot of new folks coming to the city and they might not know the rules around fireworks,” Tang said.

“This year, during Diwali, we heard a lot of complaints. It's a very significant celebration that a lot of Edmontonians celebrate. But there's a way to celebrate safely and that's what we want to encourage.”

Earlier this year, through the Public Spaces Bylaw, city council made it illegal to launch fireworks within city limits without a permit. According to Tang, that resulted in some improvements in enforcement.

In a statement to CBC News, the City of Edmonton said that, as of Friday, it had issued 31 warnings and 52 tickets — totalling more than $9,300 in fines — for the illegal use of fireworks so far this year.

“We've actually been quite proactive in terms of enforcement," Tang said. "We've seen charges and investigations go up. We have some arrests, for example, for illegal use of fireworks."

But, she added, the recent house fires in southeast Edmonton — which police said started because of sparks from fireworks, and led to three men getting charged with arson — have renewed the need to better control regulations around fireworks.

She said the pilot project for a community fireworks show could help encourage more community engagement and discussion about best practices to celebrate the holiday more safely.

Tang's motion is necessary to address safety concerns during the holiday, said Naresh Bhardwaj, a former conservative MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie now representing the Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta, a local Hindu organization.

Bhardwaj said it’s important for the city to go after people who sell fireworks illegally, adding that he has worked with multiple faith and advocacy organizations over the years to address that.

But he said individuals are still responsible for making sure they’re following the bylaws. 

“We need to be abiding by the law. If the law says, 'No illegal fireworks,' we must obey that law," he said.