SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Restrictions on the use of fireworks in the city are a lot less stringent now that a rule requiring residents take a safety course has been lifted by the city's fire chief.

The Sportman's Cordi Yaceyko Deutchmann shows off her stock of fireworks she brought in for the new year now that the fireworks restrictions have lessened. - Kira Curtis/NNSL photo

Darcy Hernblad lifted the mandatory course in November after meeting with the territory's fire marshal and decided it was better to remove the course.

Hernblad loosened the regulations in a move to balance public safety and good old fun.

"The minute you make some of the rules so tight people will find a way around them," said Hernblad.

Limiting firework use to that extent ended up hindering public safety with fireworks because people would still find a way to use the explosives but with no communication with the fire department, he said.

"I know people are going to fire off fireworks, so let them do it safely," Hernblad said, explaining his thoughts toward lifting the rules.

In the fall of 2009, residents were slapped with restrictions imposed by then fire chief Albert Headrick that said anyone wanting to set off fireworks in the city had to complete a $150 safety course before doing so. Only a handful of people took the safety course so this past November got rid of the course requirements.

Hernblad wants people to enjoy fireworks, and admits that 99 per cent of the time things can go smoothly, with no incidents, but he doesn't want to risk peoples safety or homes.

"Say if a roman candle fell over at the last minute and ended up aiming toward a propane tank," Hernblad said, adding this is a reason why there are safe ignition zones.

The winter zones are 200 metres off the shoreline of Yellowknife and Back Bay and 200 metres off the shoreline of Frame Lake, and at the centre of Rat Lake. In the summer people can ignite fireworks at Rotary Centennial Park off School Draw and Somba K'e Civic Plaza in front of City Hall. Residents who shoot fireworks off outside the prescribed areas can face a hefty fine, up to $2,000.

A permit is still needed to purchase fireworks but is free through the fire department.

Even though the restrictions were lifted a month ago, the fire department didn't publicize the decision.

"It didn't really enter our minds to," said deputy fire chief Gerda Groothuizen. Either way, the word is out with not a moment to spare before New Year's celebrations.

The original course was meant to train residents who wanted to use regular consumer fireworks, or low-hazard fireworks, the ones you don't need a special license for and are most common - like roman candles, sparklers and fountains. But the classes were hard to set up, and the lone class offered was only open to a maximum of 20 people. It left the city with a whole lot of residents who couldn't legally set off their own fireworks and just a small handful who could.

Hernblad agreed it was a good idea to train people in firework safety, but the government failed to produce enough courses for the public to take, estimating the one course only trained around 10 to 15 people. The NWT fire marshal's office was in charge of offering the courses, said Hernblad.

When the mandatory course was implemented it was a crushing blow to the family business of The Sportsman, the only place to buy fireworks in Yellowknife.

"I was pretty devastated," Cordi Yaceyko Deutchmann said, who has been selling fireworks since she was young. Her father has owned the small side business for more than 20 years, and sells fireworks because it's her family's passion.

Deutchmann said the strict rules hurt business so much that she didn't order any new stock. She found it frustrating and said she had never heard of any dangerous incidents with her regular, permit-holding customers.

In 2009 the locations where residents were allowed to shoot off fireworks were limited after complaints from the airport that the bright displays were interfering with aircraft taking off and landing.

When Headrick went to the territorial fire marshal asking for a way to create better firework safety in the city and implemented the mandatory course, Deutchmann felt it was too excessive.

Deutchmann said she hasn't seen many new customers since the course restriction was lifted Nov. 31, but she is optimistic and has fattened up her inventory for the new year.

On Friday she said she will stay open until she sells out and hopes people celebrate New Year's with a bang.

Friday night the city is throwing its fifth annual First Night celebration with a $20,000 fireworks display. The show will begin at Civic Plaza beside city hall.

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