A local baseball team has cancelled a fireworks display due to B.C.’s ongoing wildfire battle. The Vancouver Canadians, a single-A minor league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, made the announcement on Tuesday morning ahead of their game on Aug. 13. “With wildfires affecting communities across B.C. and the Pacific Northwest, resources needed to safely host the show are required elsewhere,” reads an X post from the team. “We thank the first responders working tirelessly to keep communities safe.” The team routinely schedules a “postgame fireworks extravaganza” for Thursday night home games at Nat Bailey Stadium, of which there is one remaining after this week. The team has yet to make an announcement regarding the fireworks display set for Aug. 27. Wildfire concerns This announcement comes a day after wildfire officials and the RCMP debunked a rumour that a devastating wildfire in Summerland, B.C., was sparked by a man’s use of bear bangers or fireworks. That blaze, the Bald Range fire, and many others across the province are suspected to be human-caused, which doesn’t necessarily imply they were set intentionally, but rather suggests human activity in the area was a factor. Fireworks haven’t been a rarity in Vancouver through this wildfire season, though, with the city hosting a massive celebration in English Bay on July 31, Canada Day displays scattered throughout the region, and the Canadians baseball team hosting several of their own. Of the 102 wildfires burning in B.C. as of Tuesday afternoon, 20 are believed to have been caused by humans.
