Most pets are terrified by the use of fireworks, bark a lot and scurry for cover.
Every year there are hundreds of complaints from residents about the use and abuse of fireworks at all hours, with some aimed at and injuring people, causing fires and scaring pets.
There are many stories about fireworks in the Humber Bay Shores area being fired from balconies, which send pets scurrying and narrowly missing people and vehicles on the ground.
Last month videos surfaced of crowds of people setting off fireworks for Diwali in the parking lot of Westwood Square Mall, in Mississauga, both in the air and on the ground.
By the time Peel Police arrived, most of the culprits had disappeared leaving bags of used fireworks and other debris for others to clean up.
Calls are underway for stiffer fines, enforcement and training for those who misuse fireworks.
In another case, fireworks were even fired from moving vehicles and tossed on the road.
At a Mississauga city council meeting, officials voted to support a motion that would impose a maximum fine of $100,000 to individuals convicted of improperly setting off fireworks on public property or property that is not their own.
Fireworks are allowed without a Special Occasions Permit (SOP) only on Canada Day, Victoria Day, Lunar New Year, and Diwali – at least until midnight.
The City of Toronto has been looking at getting tougher on the use of fireworks and a November 14 report called Outstanding Directives on the Public Use and Retail Sale of Consumer Fireworks from top brass of Toronto Fire Services (TFS), and Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS), asked for the sales of fireworks to only be allowed for the specific dates, training on the use of fireworks and an increase of fines for misuse.
Hundreds of complaints yearly are received by police and fire officials in regards of the misuse of fireworks, which in some cases are fired off the balconies of high-rise condos.
The executives also recommended the proposals to the Ontario government for changes to the Ontario Fire Code but there has been no response.
The TFS said requests were made in August 2022 and September 2023 for changes to be made to regulate fireworks by enhancing public safety and more enforcement of its use. They are seeking a centralized user education program to increase the safe and compliant use of fireworks.
MLS officials have also consulted with vendors about restricting the sale of fireworks year-round and recommend they work to educate them on the safe use.
The report noted fireworks are used by many nationalities for celebrations, including cultural, religious and special events during the year.
The groups called on the province to ban the possession of fireworks in Toronto parks, fund more Enforcement Officers to enforce fireworks laws after midnight, to double the fines for fireworks offences, install signage in parks and launch an information campaign, which they will next year.
Fireworks are banned form use in public spaces, parks or properties where permission must be obtained for their use.
Fireworks may only be discharged on privately owned property where a SOP is obtained, and the property owner consents to the discharge. Similarly, fireworks cannot be discharged after 11 p.m. in a park, street or other public property unless a permit is obtained.
TFS responded from 2019 to 2022 to 499 incidents involving fireworks. Firefighters were called to an increased number of fires as a result of fireworks, with 10 in 2022, and seven so far in 2023, compared to eight between 2019 and 2020.
Fire officials from 2017 to 2021 responded to 527 incidents involving fireworks, and MLS enforcement officers responded to 570 complaints over the same period.
They said fines now range from $400 to $1,000 and they want it increased to $5,000.
Fire Services said in the last five years, from 2019 to 2023, some 51% of the incidents, including 70% of fires related to fireworks.