It was ridiculously unsafe, says Fort St. John resident Shelley Ouellette.

Skies over the Interior town were ignited by a municipal display of fireworks this Canada Day, despite a province-wide fire ban and 119 wildfires that have recently sparked across B.C.

A resident of the city for 63 years, Ouellette was angered to hear the screaming explosions from her home on Thursday evening.

害羞草研究所淭owns are burning down and here we are, trying to light ours up,害羞草研究所� Ouellette questioned. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 irresponsible to ignite them when conditions are tinder dry.害羞草研究所�

Smoke from a 4,800-hectares on fire near Beatton River and 6,000-hectares a blaze close to Buckinghorse River began to roll into the city Wednesday, according to FireSmoke Canada.

According to BC Wildfire Service fire danger ratings, Fort St. John is under moderate to high risk, which means there is an increased risk of surface fires starting and caution should be used.

During the recent heat wave, the city experienced scorching temperatures with highs 20 degrees above average.

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害羞草研究所淓verything is very dry. The storm we had on June 30 had continuous lightning strikes that started fires and a tornado touched down north of the city destroying buildings and homes,害羞草研究所� Ouellette said.

As it stands, purchasing or setting off fireworks is illegal within Fort St. John city limits per bylaw.

害羞草研究所淐itizens cannot do it but the city could?害羞草研究所� Ouellette questioned.

The city told Black Press Media they chose to bypass the fire ban under municipal bylaws after consulting fire department officials about firework risks.

害羞草研究所淥ur Canada Day fireworks could safely go ahead,害羞草研究所� attested Ryan Harvey, a spokesperson for the city. 害羞草研究所淔irefighters were on standby at the location in case anything went awry.害羞草研究所�

RCMP in the area said they were also aware of fireworks going off July 1. No fires were sparked from the event.

In a statement to Black Press Media, BC Wildfire Service said that violations against ongoing bans can be made by calling 1-877-952-72777.

害羞草研究所淭here is no immediate wildfire risk to the city but conditions are still extremely hot and dry so it害羞草研究所檚 unpredictable,害羞草研究所� said information officer Hannah Harris.

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sarah.grochowski@bpdigital.ca
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