Halloween brought injuries and arrests, leading to a decline in B.C.

Vancouver emergency crews faced another year of Halloween chaos Thursday as attacks, fires, fireworks-related injuries and civil unrest plagued the spooky holiday.

Despite a current ban on the sale or use of fireworks anywhere in the city, incidents involving low-grade explosives continued to result in a number of injuries.

The mayhem began in the early hours of the morning at David Thompson High School in Fraserview, where two teenage boys were injured after someone set off firecrackers in the school hallway just after 10am.

According to a statement from the Vancouver Police Department, a man set off a firecracker outside the school’s gym, injuring two students who walked by. One of them was taken to hospital with a facial injury, and the other temporarily lost his hearing.

Police have not identified a suspect and said it is unclear whether the person is a student at the school. The PDPD, whose Youth Services Division is investigating the incident, asked anyone who witnessed the attack or has information about what happened to call the department at 604-717-3144.

As evening wore on, officers continued to have their work cut out for them, with Vancouver police noting that much of the unrest was concentrated in the city’s downtown area.

Eight people were arrested for disorderly conduct and one for assaulting a police officer, all of which occurred on the Granville Strip, VPD said Friday.

On Thursday evening, Vancouver Fire and Rescue listed another person with serious fireworks-related injuries after someone “maliciously discharged” fireworks near another person.

Despite a ban on the sale, purchase and lighting of fireworks in Vancouver that came into effect in 2020, firefighters said they have received 100 reports of fireworks being ignited across the city this year, with crews responding to 50 problem areas where they have encountered . actively intervene or disperse people in the area.

Of the 21 fires reported in Vancouver Thursday night, three were fireworks-related, according to VFRS.

While these numbers show a marked decrease in violations during the spooky season—firefighters noted that the $3,000 in fireworks-related damages is significantly lower than the $225,000 incurred last year, and the two combined pale in comparison with $1.3 million in combined property damage for 2019 and 2019. 2020 – Thursday’s incidents highlight there is still room for improvement, VFRS said.

“Although the number of fireworks events has decreased compared to last year, there is still much work to be done to educate the public about the risks to people and property, and to ensure compliance with current by-laws,” VFRS said. in a press release Friday.

Vancouver wasn’t the only region to experience Halloween lawlessness Thursday, with other Lower Mainland police departments reporting incidents throughout the evening.

In Squamish, fireworks, bear spray and homemade explosive devices were confiscated by police who reprimanded a large gathering of rowdy youth in the Garibaldi Highlands area. Officers found about 100 youths setting off illegal fireworks, starting fires and “causing mischief” in the area, said Squamish RCMP, which received a large number of calls reporting fireworks being shot at people, homes and cars.

“Some young people were physically and verbally aggressive towards the police. The fireworks were aimed at the police and their vehicles and exploded. In addition, some of the youth were in possession of bear spray, bear killers, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and wearing balaclavas,” Squamish RCMP said in a news release.

Several youths were arrested and later released back to their parents, and while no charges have been filed in the incidents, the investigation is still ongoing, police said.

The Abbotsford Police Department said officers seized the explosives and issued violation tickets, reprimanding youths “aged 14 years and older” after a “large number” of complaints about fireworks. Surrey RCMP noted 39 calls related to fireworks, while the remaining 301 calls received Thursday night were the result of disturbances, pranks, arguments, dropped 911 calls and suspicious incidents.

In the Mission, an officer was allegedly hit in the face with a baton while trying to disperse a group of 300 people in the area of ​​Albert McMahon Elementary School.

Meanwhile, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), which last month announced it would become one of the last regions to ban holiday explosives, has seen a significant drop in Halloween-related incidents this year.

Nation spokesman and Sxwixwtn councilor Wilson Williams said people were “complying with the ban” on reserve land sales in the lead-up to Halloween and noise complaints and reported incidents had dropped significantly.

“I am pleased to report that the fireworks ban we have implemented on our reserve has achieved its intended purpose,” he said.

“The safety of our people is our number one priority this season and the ban has been a success.”