To date, emergency services have seen encouraging compliance with Calgary's fireworks regulations and strong support for safe celebration practices. On Saturday, Nov. 7, five fireworks incidents were reported and three fines were issued.

"We want to thank everyone celebrating Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas for helping make these celebrations safe," says Fire Marshall Glenn Baxter, Calgary Fire Department. "We appreciate the efforts being made across Calgary to reduce fire risks and prevent incidents."

"We've worked closely with community organizations and members in advance of Diwali, and we're grateful for their collaboration and partnership in sharing safety information," says Geoff Gawlinski, Staff Sergeant with Calgary Police Service.

Permitted fireworks displays

On Nov. 5, a permitted fireworks show led by a professional fireworks operator took place at the Diwali in Huxley event. The City of Calgary’s safety partners thank the organizers for providing an opportunity for the community to enjoy fireworks in a safe setting. The City encourages community groups and organizations planning future celebrations to consider permitted, professionally operated fireworks displays.

While celebrations continue, residents are reminded that personal fireworks remain prohibited in Calgary, including fireworks purchased outside Calgary or ordered online.

"We look forward to maintaining this positive momentum throughout the remainder of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas," says Damian Cole, Deputy Chief of Community Safety (Emergency Management & Community Safety). "By continuing to celebrate responsibly, everyone can contribute to a safe and enjoyable Calgary.”

Reporting

Residents are encouraged to report illegal fireworks as follows:

• If there is a fire or emergency: call 911.
• For non-emergency fireworks happening now: call Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.
• For fireworks that already occurred: submit a 311 request using the category “Disturbance and Public Behaviour Concerns.”

For more information, visit www.calgary.ca/fireworks. For information on Diwali, visit www.calgary.ca/Diwali.  

-30-

Each year during Fire Prevention Week, the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) appoints a Junior Fire Chief to act as Calgary’s fire safety ambassador. This program has been running since 2016 in partnership with the Alberta Children’s Hospital. 

Kean’s duties will include promoting this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Charge into Fire Safety - Safe Charging is a Superpower.” As part of Kean’s first day, he went for a ride in a fire engine and had lunch with firefighters and his family at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. 

“Our Junior Fire Chief plays an important role in helping to raise fire safety awareness for everyone, especially young people,” said Chief Dongworth. “Just like our Community Safety Team and the 1800 other firefighters in our service, the Junior Fire Chief helps to us communicate important fire safety messages with our family, friends and community.” 

“We’re honoured to continue this meaningful partnership with the Calgary Fire Department, recognizing a remarkable child whose courage and character embody the spirit of the Junior Fire Chief program.” said Stacy Kelly, Special Events Coordinator at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. “The program helps to promote important initiatives and our shared values around safety, teamwork and leadership.” 

Kean joins the Calgary Fire Department at a time when Calgary is seeing increasing fire risks from consumer and household devices due to lithium-ion battery fires. 

 “With more lithium-ion battery fires, residential fires, overdoses and other medical calls, Calgary Fire is expected to see its greatest-ever number of incidents in 2026,” said Chief Dongworth with a minimum projection of 94,000 incidents by end of year. We’re also seeing growth in emerging risks such as urban wildfire and fireworks usage.” 

Lithium-ion fires can be hard to extinguish and difficult to control. Batteries contain high amounts of stored energy which, once ignited, cause thermal runaway, leading to rapid overheating, explosions and toxic gases. 

Damaged batteries, overcharging, and improper use of batteries and chargers are common causes of fires. Use of off-brand or discounted high-capacity batteries is also highly associated with greater fire risk, as is modifying electronics in any way. 

Know how to charge & recycle safely  Calgarians are encouraged to: 

1. Buy and use safely: Purchase products from reputable vendors and look for a “UL” or “CSA” stamp on the product to ensure it meets safety standards. Don’t damage or modify your devices and their batteries. 

2. Charge safely: Do not overcharge devices; unplug them or remove the battery once fully charged. Do not charge under pillows, on beds or on couches where batteries can overheat. 

3. Recycle responsibly: Recycle your batteries at designated collection sites across Calgary. Find out more at calgary.ca/chargesafe. 

By responsibly recycling batteries, hazardous materials are kept out of the garbage and landfills. Recycling also allows for the recovery and reuse of valuable resources, which can be used in the manufacturing of new products, like stainless steel products or even new batteries. 

Find out more about how to safety manage and dispose of batteries, including free drop off locations across Calgary: calgary.ca/chargesafe. 

For more information about Fire Prevention Week, visit calgary.ca/firepreventionweek. 

 -30- 

Fire Prevention Week – Fast Facts 

• 2026 is currently on track to see the most ever lithium-ion battery fires on record in Calgary, mostly caused by e-scooters, e-bikes and battery packs.
• While lithium-ion battery fires are not as frequent as structure fires, they doubled in Calgary between 2024 to 2025, from 10 to 21 incidents.
• With more lithium-ion battery fires, residential fires, overdoses and other medical calls, Calgary Fire is expected to see its greatest-ever number of incidents in 2026 with a minimum projection of 94,000 incidents by end of year. Previously, 92,923 incidents in 2023 represented the most calls for help in a single year for Calgary’s 141-year-old fire service. 
• Incident volumes have increased with Calgary’s continued population and geographic growth, from 61,064 incidents in 2020 to 92,248 in 2025 – a 51% increase. CFD is also seeing growth in emerging risks such as urban wildfire and fireworks usage.  

The internal review examined dispatch actions and decision-making, as well as adherence to operational policies.

“The outcome of this review is difficult,” says Iain Bushell, Director of Emergency Management and Community Safety with The City of Calgary, “as it identified instances where established procedures were not followed, resulting in a delay in how certain information was acted on. That delay did not meet the standard of service we expect.”

The review found gaps in adherence to procedures, rather than gaps in the procedures themselves. As a result, appropriate disciplinary action has been taken. Due to confidentiality obligations related to personnel matters, no further details regarding individual employment actions will be provided.

In addition to the immediate corrective actions taken, a number of measures have been implemented to strengthen accountability and reinforce the consistent application of procedures and protocols, including enhanced training and operational oversight.

“We are committed to strengthening our processes and ensuring our employees have the support, training and tools they need to serve Calgarians effectively,” says Bushell. “Calgary 911 employees are deeply committed to public safety, and when an event has a tragic outcome such as this, they feel the weight of that responsibility.

“Our thoughts remain with Parker’s family, loved ones and all those affected by this tragic loss. We will ensure the lessons from this tragedy lead to meaningful improvements in how we serve the community.”

- 30 -

BACKGROUNDER

9-1-1 INTERNAL REVIEW: KEY FINDINGS

Dispatch actions and decision-making

• Two calls were made from the day home to 9-1-1 on July 16, 2026.
• A Priority 1 police event was not created during the first call, received at 10:53 a.m., as the caller confirmed they did not wish to file a missing person report at that time and would call back if Parker was not found shortly.  The internal review, however, found that sufficient information was provided to identify the situation as an “endangered missing child” and a Priority 1 police event should have been actioned according to policy.
• The supervisor reviewed the call that was entered as an advised event but did not reopen, escalate or reassess the event after reviewing it. The internal review found that the supervisor should have more fully considered the totality of available information, specifically the child's age and the inability of day home staff to locate the child.
• At 11:24 a.m. the original caller phoned 9-1-1 back to officially report Parker missing and a Priority 1 Missing Person event was created at 11:41 a.m. The internal review found that the delay in entering the event represented a potential opportunity to dispatch police earlier.

Adherence to operational policies and procedures

• The review found that sufficient information was shared to recognize the occurrence as an endangered missing child event and that the established procedures related to missing persons, event prioritization, dispatch requirements and event management were not followed.
• The review highlighted gaps in applying existing policies rather than gaps in the policies themselves. It further determined that departures from established procedures contributed to delayed police notification and response.

Identified opportunities for improvement and actions taken in response

1. Strengthen oversight and quality assurance

Actions taken in response

• All advised events (calls entered as not requiring police assistance) are now reviewed every 15-30 minutes by two supervisors, rather than one, providing an additional layer of oversight to support consistent decision-making and application of operational procedures. (completed)
• A program of spot checks and periodic call reviews is being implemented by coaching mentors and the coaching pool to reinforce operational standards and support continuous learning. (in progress)
• Additional workplace supports have been implemented by positioning employees closer to senior staff to facilitate real-time guidance, mentorship and operational oversight. (completed)

1. Reinforce policy compliance

Actions taken in response

• All employees completed a mandatory review of missing persons policies, including reinforcement of key procedures and expectations. (completed)
• Focused team briefings were conducted to reinforce policy adherence, accuracy, timeliness, critical thinking and decision-making, including the operational impacts of dispatch decisions. (completed)
• A broader review of policies and standard operating procedures is underway to strengthen clarity, reduce ambiguity and support consistent operational decision-making. (in progress)

1. Enhance training and professional development

Actions taken in response

• New recruit training is being extended by one week, bringing the program to a total of 11 weeks. (in progress)
• Additional training focused on critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and problem solving is being developed for delivery to future new-hire classes and all existing employees. (in progress)
• Enhanced training for supervisors, including strengthened guidance on event review and escalation responsibilities, is being developed and implemented. (in progress)