88-year-old woman struck by firework in West End apartment: VPD
Posted October 31, 2020 9:44 am.
Last Updated October 31, 2020 9:48 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — An 88-year-old woman was hurt after a firework shot through her West End apartment window hitting her in the head just days before Vancouver’s ban on fireworks comes into effect.
The firework flew through her living window Thursday night around 8:30 p.m., waking the woman up, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
Const. Jason Doucette says when officers arrived, they “noticed a large burn on the top of her head.”
He adds there were two holes in the window along with cardboard fragments on the floor.
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The sale of fireworks is only allowed during the five days leading up to Halloween, but 2020 marks the last year they can be sold in Vancouver.
The city moved forward with a ban on the sale and use of fireworks starting Nov. 1.
According to the bylaw motion from last year, the Vancouver Police Department sees calls for service dramatically increase during the five days leading up to Oct. 31 each year.
Last year, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services supported the push ban after seeing about $360,000 in damages after Halloween night.
RELATED: No spike in fireworks calls expected on last Halloween of Vancouver sales, says fire dept.
Other cities with bans on the sale of fireworks include North Vancouver, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, Langley, Langley Township, Abbotsford,
Mission, Victoria, and Seattle, Wash.
Despite this being the last year for fireworks in the city, Vancouver Fire said it wasn’t expecting a jump in calls.
-With files from Lisa Steacy
