The Lake Cowichan RCMP wants to remind residents in the two electoral areas of the Cowichan Lake area that private fireworks are not allowed on Halloween without a special permit.

The Cowichan Tribes and the Cowichan Valley Regional District have joined North Cowichan and Duncan for a total ban on recreational fireworks.

The CVRD ban, which took effect a few months ago, includes the Youbou-Meade Creek area and Skutz Falls-Cowichan Lake South.

Fireworks are allowed on Halloween in Lake Cowichan, where the town fire department will be shooting off fireworks at 7 p.m. near the arena as part of the Olympic torch relay celebrations.

Residents will also be allowed to set off fireworks on Halloween.

“We’d just like to remind people that fireworks aren’t allowed in Area F and Area I,” said Cpl. Kurt Gottfried of the Lake Cowichan RCMP.

Lake Cowichan implemented its fireworks bylaw four years ago to ban fireworks, unless you get a permit, except between October 28 and November 1 of each year.

The same restrictions apply to selling fireworks in Lake Cowichan.

The CVRD bylaw reads: “Fireworks may be discharged at a public special event or festival provided the organization has a fire safety plan and the person discharging the fireworks has a valid fireworks operator certificate.”

That, of course, would allow the Bay Days fireworks in Honeymoon Bay every B.C. Day long weekend and the Halloween fireworks in Youbou.

These certificates are offered to those who complete a course through Natural Resources Canada, although CVRD corporate secretary Joe Barry said the certification course may eventually be offered locally.

— With a file from the Cowichan Valley News Leader.