Surrey fireworks complaints rose 30 per cent over Halloween and Diwali weekend
Surrey Fire Chief Jason Cairney reported to council that more than 900 complaints came in on Sunday night alone, with 71 bylaw tickets issued and a U-Haul truck full of fireworks seized.
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Surrey fireworks complaints rose 30 per cent over the Halloween and Diwali weekend compared with the previous year, Fire Chief Jason Cairney told City Council at the November 9 meeting, the Surrey Now-Leader reported. On Sunday night alone, the Surrey Fire Service and Surrey Police Service ran a joint enforcement operation that handled more than 900 complaints.
Councillor Doug Elford described the enforcement response as impressive but said the city can do better in future years. "I guess we can do better next time," the Surrey Now-Leader quoted him as saying.
What happened overnight
Cairney told council that 17 bylaw officers ran 200 patrols between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Sunday night and had more than 1,000 direct interactions with the public. Officers issued 71 bylaw tickets during that period.
Surrey Police Service led seizures of multiple fireworks during the operation. Cairney described one seizure as a U-Haul truck that was full of fireworks.
What the City can fine
Surrey bylaws restrict when and where fireworks can be set off. Fines for violations can reach $50,000, as the City made clear before Halloween and Diwali in a bylaw reminder. The joint operation between Surrey Fire Service and Surrey Police Service is intended to enforce those rules on the nights when fireworks use is highest.
The 30 per cent increase reported by Fire Chief Cairney follows an enforcement pattern the City has run for several years. With both Halloween and Diwali falling close together in 2026, demand for fireworks was high, and the overnight operation brought in more complaints than any previous year by that measure.
Cairney presented the enforcement results as a corporate report at the first regular meeting of the new council, which took office on November 2. The same meeting also saw council approve $12.7 million in public works contracts and $17.5 million for the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine excavation.
What residents can do
Surrey residents can report fireworks violations to Surrey Bylaw Services or to Surrey Police Service. The Surrey Police Board, which now includes Councillor Elford following his appointment at the November 9 meeting, oversees the Surrey Police Service. Mayor Doug McCallum's commitments, including those related to public safety, are tracked at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker.
Questions this story answers
How much did Surrey fireworks complaints rise over the Halloween and Diwali weekend?
Fireworks-related complaints in Surrey rose 30 per cent compared with the previous year, according to Surrey Fire Chief Jason Cairney, who reported the figures to City Council at the November 9 meeting, as reported by the Surrey Now-Leader.
How many complaints did Surrey receive on Sunday night?
Surrey received more than 900 complaints on Sunday night during the Halloween and Diwali weekend, the Surrey Now-Leader reported. Fire Chief Cairney said 17 bylaw officers conducted 200 patrols and had more than 1,000 direct interactions with the public during the same overnight period, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
How many bylaw tickets were issued?
Surrey bylaw officers issued 71 tickets during the Halloween and Diwali weekend fireworks enforcement operation, according to Fire Chief Jason Cairney's report to council, as reported by the Surrey Now-Leader on November 9. Officers ran 200 patrols and had more than 1,000 interactions with the public that night.
What fireworks were seized?
Surrey Police Service led seizures of multiple fireworks during the enforcement operation, including what Fire Chief Cairney described as a U-Haul truck that was full of fireworks, according to the Surrey Now-Leader. The seizures were part of coordinated enforcement between Surrey Fire Service and Surrey Police Service over the Halloween and Diwali weekend.
What did Councillor Doug Elford say about the enforcement?
Councillor Doug Elford, a Safe Surrey Coalition member who was appointed to the Surrey Police Board at the same November 9 meeting, said the enforcement response was impressive but indicated there is room for improvement in future years, according to the Surrey Now-Leader. His exact words were: 'I guess we can do better next time.'
What is Surrey's current rule on fireworks?
Surrey bylaws restrict when and where fireworks can be used. Fines for bylaw violations in Surrey can reach up to $50,000, as reported previously. The enforcement operation on the Halloween and Diwali weekend involved 17 officers running overnight patrols from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to the Surrey Now-Leader.
Who runs fireworks enforcement in Surrey?
Surrey bylaw officers and Surrey Police Service work together on fireworks enforcement. Fire Chief Jason Cairney reported the results to City Council. At the November 9 meeting where the report was made, Councillor Doug Elford also received his appointment to the Surrey Police Board, which oversees the Surrey Police Service.
Where can Surrey residents report fireworks concerns?
Surrey residents can report fireworks violations to Surrey Bylaw Services or to the Surrey Police Service. The city's enforcement efforts are reported to council. The Surrey Police Board, which now includes Councillor Doug Elford, oversees the police service. The promise tracker at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker follows Mayor McCallum's commitments.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Surrey Now-Leader: Fireworks complaints up 30% in Surrey over last yearsurreynowleader.com
- Peace Arch News: Fireworks complaints up 30% in Surrey over last yearpeacearchnews.com
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