SPVM Warns Canadiens Fans: No Pyrotechnics at Bell Centre
Police announce zero-tolerance enforcement against fireworks and smoke devices, with fines up to $5,000, after recent incidents injured a child and sparked a fire.
If you're planning to celebrate a Canadiens playoff victory with fireworks outside the Bell Centre, the SPVM has a clear message: don't. Montreal police announced Thursday a zero-tolerance enforcement policy against all pyrotechnic devices at public gatherings, backed by a recently enacted Quebec law aimed at public safety.
Fines range from $500 to $5,000—which, as one officer noted, is roughly the cost of two red-zone playoff tickets. No firecrackers, no roman candles, no smoke devices, no modified explosives. Full stop.
The crackdown comes after two incidents downtown following the Canadiens' Game 7 win over Buffalo on Monday. One fire-related incident caused injuries to a young child; another actually started a fire. SPVM commander François Sauvé called the incidents "reminders of the serious risks," emphasizing that these objects can "seriously compromise public safety."
With the Canadiens now facing Carolina in the Eastern Conference final—Game 1 Thursday night in Raleigh—police are deploying specialized units, foot and bike patrols, and vehicle patrols around the arena whenever fans gather. Anyone caught with prohibited items faces immediate confiscation, a ticket, and potential arrest. The message is straightforward: celebrate hard, celebrate safely, celebrate without explosives.