The Cache Creek Fire Department (CCFD) has announced that there will not be a fireworks display in the community Creek this Halloween, but fire chief Tom Moe says he hopes the event will return next year.
The CCFD announced the decision in a Facebook post on Oct. 2, and while there was disappointment, many commenters asked how they could help for next year. Moe says that money had a lot to do with the decision, noting that it usually costs around $5,000 to produce a display that lasts 15 to 20 minutes.
He adds that the fireworks the CCFD purchases are professional fireworks that range from three to six inches in size, and are not the “over the counter” fireworks — such as Roman candles and Burning Schoolhouses — that can be purchased by members of the public.
“They have to be ordered in advance, and it takes about a month to get them in. They’re like small bombs, and they have appropriately-sized mortars that they’re placed in and fired out of,” explains Moe. Holes have to be dug for each mortar and firework — about 50 in all — to be placed in.
“It’s a lot of work. We go up a couple of days before [Halloween] to dig the holes, and the firefighters just weren’t into it this year for some reason.” He adds that some of the firefighters are looking forward to being able to spend Halloween with their children or grandchildren for a change, rather than supervising the fireworks display.
The CCFD usually solicits donations to help cover the cost of the fireworks, and Moe says that the cost meant there was a feeling that perhaps the department shouldn’t do them this year.
“We usually get money from the Cache Creek Recreation Committee, the Village of Cache Creek, and Second Time Around, but we need someone to go around and solicit people to get donations. Next year, a couple of months before Halloween, we’ll put the word out that if people want to see a fireworks show we need donations to make it happen.”
The Halloween fireworks display has been an annual tradition in the community for at least 25 years, says Moe, who obtained his fireworks supervisor certificate 15 years ago. It involves taking a course through Natural Resources Canada, then assisting at three fireworks shows before getting a certificate and being allowed to set them off. Moe notes that CCFD firefighter Bill Elliott also has a certificate, and three other firefighters applied last year.
Moe adds that while he is sure people some people will get fireworks of their own, he points out that Cache Creek has a bylaw requiring anyone setting off fireworks to obtain a permit from the village first.
“Whether they get one or not is in question. When we’re getting ready to do ours, we always see other people setting fireworks off.”
He points out, however, that over the counter fireworks can still be dangerous, and people need to take care with them.
“One year, while we were setting off our fireworks, someone shot off a Roman candle and it tore into some cedars by the Cache Creek Machine Shop. We could see the fire from on top of the mountain, and had to come running down to put it out.”
Incidents like that are why the CCFD invites members of Ashcroft Fire Rescue to come and help as spark watchers and mortar cleaners. “You don’t need a ticket for that, so we’ve had them come and help, which is good.”
Moe understands that some folk in and around the community are disappointed.
“People want to see it back next year, and it’s a tradition that we do them, so fingers crossed they’ll be back next year. We thought there’d be some backlash, and there hasn’t, but people in the street are saying how sorry they are that there won’t be fireworks this year. It’s a big thing.”
