SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - After Nov. 19, anyone wishing to set off fireworks within city boundaries will need to have complete a $150 safety course put on by the fire department.

Anyone wanting to set off fireworks after Nov. 19 needs to have completed a $150 safety course to receive their permit. - NNSL file photo

"There's so much damage caused by fireworks displays and the injuries that are sustained with them – we thought it was imperative as a fire division to streamline the process of taking a fireworks course," said fire chief Albert Headrick.

Those who have not completed the course and are caught lighting fireworks can be fined up to $2,000 under the city's Emergency Response and Fire Protection Services bylaw 4502.

The course will outline all the dangers associated with fireworks and the proper procedures for setting them off, said Headrick.

The territory-wide training session will be offered in Yellowknife but is limited to 20 people.

"We're going to try to meet the needs and circumstances of citizens within the boundaries of Yellowknife," said Headrick.

"Unfortunately, it must be stated, that this course is for the whole of the NWT, so first-come, first-served." Currently, anyone wishing to purchase fireworks must have a permit from the NWT fire marshal, and to set them off, a permit from the fire department. Both of these permits can be acquired at no cost.

After Nov. 19, the fire department will not issue a permit for lighting fireworks unless evidence is provided that the safety course has been completed.

Completion of the training session will mean graduates receive a supervisors certificate and the knowhow to set off both low and high hazard fireworks.

"It's basically a fire department decision, to promote fire safety and injury prevention," said Headrick.

He said the fire department has the authority to place restrictions on fireworks under the NWT Fire Prevention Act.

"The fire marshal can delegate, which he has, so therefore we can regulate and that's what we're doing," he said.

Residents within Yellowknife city boundaries are currently not allowed to discharge fireworks from their backyards. The only designated areas which can be used for setting off fireworks is on Back Bay, Yellowknife Bay, Kam Lake and Frame Lake, but they must be 200 meters from shore.

"There hasn't really been any difficulty on this, there are only a selected few that set fireworks off in this city to be quite honest with you, and they've been pretty receptive to it," said Headrick.

There are no Canadian-wide fireworks accident statistics, however, according to B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association's Burn Fund, children aged five to fourteen are the most likely to be involved in and injured in fireworks incidents.