Handle with care: Diwali and Guy Fawkes fireworks

It’s that time of the year again when the skies of Cape Town explode in a riot of colourful fireworks, the popping sounds of firecrackers echo through the suburbs – and animals run about in panic.

This year Diwali and Guy Fawkes fall on the same day – Friday 5 November – and the City of Cape Town is urging residents to be cautious and sensible when handling fireworks both on this day and New Year’s Eve.

The SPCA is also urging Capetonians to be considerate of the terrifying effects fireworks have on animals, and not to discharge any fireworks near them.

Diwali, or Deepavali, means ‘a row of lights’, and is a significant religious ritual for Hindus. Discharging fireworks is a tradition symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil and follows a month-long fast and abstinence from meat and alcohol.

The Cape Town Diwali Festival to celebrate Hindu culture will be held at Ratanga Junction on Saturday 30 October.

Guy Fawkes Night, meanwhile, is an annual celebration marked by fireworks and bonfires around the world, commemorating the failure of the British Gunpowder Plot of 5 November 1605, in which Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, allegedly tried to blow up the British Houses of Parliament in London.

The City has identified eight designated areas across Cape Town (below) where shop-bought fireworks may be discharged. These areas will be patrolled by City fire safety inspectors and law enforcement officers as well as the SA Police Services, and there will be a zero-tolerance approach to those who discharge fireworks illegally.

In terms of the Explosives Act, Number 26 of 1956, and the City’s Community Safety Bylaw, the storage, sale and use of explosives is closely regulated.

All approved fireworks displays must be presented by licensed fireworks contractors, and members of the public attending these must follow safety instructions given to them. Those wanting to hold a public fireworks display must obtain a permit from the SAPS at least two weeks beforehand.

Fireworks can only be purchased from authorised dealers, who have the necessary permits to sell them. These must be in sealed packages, and cannot be sold to children under the age of 16. Children cannot handle or use fireworks unless under the supervision of an adult. Fireworks cannot be sold by informal traders. The City cannot be held liable for any injuries or damages that occur from the use of fireworks.

Meanwhile, the SPCA says the sound from fireworks is at least seven times louder to animals than it is to humans, due to their wider range of hearing. This causes animals to panic and they often injure themselves as they try to escape.

Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Sarah Scarth says that even if fireworks are only let off in designated areas, animals – particularly dogs and cats – are still affected as the sound carries.

She urged pet-owners to take adequate precautionary measures which include the following:

• Ensure that animals have identification; preferably a micro-chip or dog tag, in case they escape and are lost
• If possible, stay at home with animals
• If not at home, keep pets inside in a safe and secure room
• Mask any noise by drawing curtains and playing calming music
• Put familiar and comforting things around them
• Feed them beforehand, which is likely to make them sleepy
• Give them something to chew on – a chewy bone or catnip toys for cats
• If necessary, consult a veterinarian who may prescribe a sedative. There are also effective homeopathic calming remedies available

Scarth says the SPCA has seen a drop in the number of fireworks-related animal emergencies over the last few years, but they have noticed more stray animals being found during these festivities.

“Of the 30 calls the SPCA Inspectorate call centre handled on 5 November 2009, only eight required a call-out by an SPCA Inspector,” said SPCA Chief Inspector Andries Venter.

Important contacts:

– Information relating to the illegal sale or use of fireworks: Metro Police Call Centre on 0860-POLICE (765423)
or SAPS on 10111.
– More information about designated sites: City Disaster Operations Centre on 080-911-HELP (4357).
– SPCA 24-hour control centre – 021 700 4140/59 or a/h to 083 326 1604
– SPCA
– Cape Town Diwali Festival bookings

The designated fireworks areas are:

1. Theo Marais Park, Koeberg Road, Milnerton	Subcouncil 1
2. Bishop Lavis Sportsfield, Lavis Drive, Bishop Lavis	Subcouncil 5
3. Wesfleur Sportsfield, Reygersdal Drive, Atlantis	Subcouncil 7
4. Macassar Beach parking area, Macassar Road, Macassar	Subcouncil 8
5. Swartklip Sports Complex, corner Spine and Swartklip Roads, Mitchells Plain	Subcouncil 10
6. Maidens Cove parking area, Victoria Road, Camps Bay	Subcouncil 16
7. Athlone Stadium parking area (Eastern side), Klipfontein Road, Athlone	Subcouncil 17
8.   Sunrise Beach parking area, Sunrise Circle, Muizenberg	Subcouncil 19

Published by Martin Pollack. 2010/10/28