Categories: Lifestyle

Diwali fireworks checklist: 3 must-knows for a safe & sparkling celebration in Toronto

Image via City of Toronto

Get ready to sparkle, Toronto. Diwali Festival Of Lights is right around the corner.

If you’re planning on using fireworks, you absolutely need to keep safety in mind! There are some important rules to remember to ensure you don’t end up responsible for an avoidable accident.

We’ve put together a little checklist so that everyone can celebrate safely.

Get a permit

No matter where you live in Toronto, remember: You need a permit to set off fireworks during Diwali.

Fireworks can only be set off on your private property until 11 PM. And another quick reminder: people under the age of 18 are not permitted to set off fireworks under any circumstances.

Check that your location is ok

Image via City of Toronto

Not every spot in the city is a fireworks-friendly zone.

Fireworks are not allowed in parks or on beaches. You are also not allowed to set off fireworks in a street, a parking lot, on a balcony, or on any private property that is not your own.

If you plan on hosting your own backyard fireworks display, make sure your yard is big enough and doesn’t have any buildings or trees nearby. Always read and follow the directions on the manufacturer’s label for the fireworks you purchase. This will include information on how far away the spectators need to be so that everyone can stay safe.

Most of all, just be mindful of your surroundings and don’t set off fireworks where they may be a nuisance or pose a risk of fire, injury or damage to any person, pet, or property. It’s a safety-first, sparkle-second necessity!

Soak in water before disposal

When the fun winds down, disposing of fireworks properly is super important — improper disposal can cause fires in waste collection vehicles and at facilities.

To dispose of used or unused fireworks, completely submerge the fireworks in water and soak them overnight.

Then put them in your garbage bin. Never put used or unused fireworks in the blue bin!

Got it?!? You can find more information on how to use and safely dispose of fireworks on the City of Toronto’s Fireworks webpage. Happy Diwali — and remember: safety first, sparkle second!