The Penticton Fire Department is cautioning residents to stay safe ahead of what promises to be a very unique Halloween.
On top of fireworks and the other various safety concerns that occur on Halloween night, residents also have COVID-19 to worry about.
READ MORE: Trudeau and his family decide against trick-or-treating this year due to COVID
Residential use of fireworks is illegal in the province of British Columbia without a permit, explained Penticton fire chief Larry Watkinson.
Watkinson doesn鈥檛 expect many people to be out lighting off fireworks this year, but he said it has posed problems in the past.
鈥淭hose ones you buy on the side of the road are still illegal and they鈥檙e dangerous,鈥� said Watkinson. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e unknown, they鈥檙e not coming from a guaranteed supplier and they鈥檙e produced in non-certified facilities.
鈥淚鈥檝e sadly had to respond to children with their hands blown off.鈥�
With fireworks out of the question and many questions remaining about how to safely trick-or-treat during a pandemic, Watkinson says Halloween in 2020 will be uniquely challenging.
If families do choose to participate in trick-or-treating, it鈥檚 imperative that they do so only with groups from inside their bubble and maintain a safe distance from candy givers, said Watkinson. He also said this year parents should always be present with trick-or-treaters, even older children. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to put your kids out there they need to be well lit and masked up,鈥� said the fire chief.
Traditional Halloween masks, such as a plastic mask, should be worn with a proper face covering underneath.
When it comes to Halloween parties, Watkinson鈥檚 advice was pretty simple: 鈥淒on鈥檛.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e done really well in Penticton when it comes to our response to COVID鈥� and I think a lot of that has to do with our youth,鈥� said Watkinson. 鈥淥ur youth have been highly disciplined, even our grad parties and all that stuff was really pinned down.鈥�
Other ways to ensure you and your kids stay safe this Halloween include:
- Check your candy at home to make sure it hasn鈥檛 been tampered with
- Drivers should be aware and extra cautious of children on the roads at night
- If you use fireworks or have a bonfire, do it safely: don鈥檛 light fireworks from your hands and make sure they are a safe distance from any properties or grassy fields
- Dress children in bright clothing for visibility
Here鈥檚 a #COVID19 family friendly fall experience here in 鈦�@cityofpenticton鈦�. Bring you own clean dry firewood, marshmallows, hot chocolate, and enjoy a warm 馃敟 on our beaches. #penticton #SocialDistancing #mikebiden pic.twitter.com/Yfq0eQbwNq
鈥� Penticton Fire Chief (@pentictonfire) October 18, 2020
READ MORE: B.C.鈥檚 top doctor encourages Halloween costumes to include masks
jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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