'It was bad': Fireworks fight breaks out in Toronto
Residents in the Christie Pits area are voicing concern after a wild fireworks fight erupted in their neighbourhood on Victoria Day, with young people shooting off fireworks across Bloor Street as cars and pedestrians passed by.
One woman who spoke to CP24 said she was trying to sleep when she heard loud bangs from her home.
"It was bad," Francillia St. Marie told CP24.
She said the quiet of the sleepy Victoria Day long weekend was broken by loud bangs which sounded like they were close by. She then looked out her window and saw smoke and fireworks.
"So what I saw was a bunch of like teenagers and kids just running up and down Bloor kind of shooting fireworks at each other and also people walking by," she said.
She said she first heard the bangs around 9 p.m. and when she left for work an hour later, it was still happening.
"It was kind of sad to see that that was going on because it makes you feel unsafe," St. Marie said.
She said Bloor Street was lit up with the multi-coloured light from the fireworks, accompanied by very loud bangs and she could see people in restaurants poking their heads out to try to figure out what was happening as 20 to 30 young people ran around setting off fireworks at one another.
"That's uncalled for," she said.
Images from the scene show people running around either side of the street, shooting fireworks. One of them appears to strike a vehicle. Some of the fireworks in the park were set off right next to a parked police cruiser.
Initially, police did not appear to respond. Backup from multiple divisions eventually arrived on scene and officers could be seen confiscating fireworks from people.
Toronto police said they confiscated "several bags of fireworks" and worked with the TTC to manage the crowd. They said there were no reports of injuries or property damage.
"Officers were patrolling the area all day and evening and cleared out the park by approximately 11 p.m.," police told CP24.
One arrest was made in the park, unrelated to the fireworks, police said.
Another area resident who gave his name as Noah said he also saw teens shooting fireworks at each other across the busy street and lighting roman candles. He said this is the second year in a row that this sort of thing has happened and he questioned why there wasn't more prevention in place.
"The police (were) mostly blocking off the streets," he said. "They weren't necessarily chasing after any individuals with fireworks. But again, I don't think that was really their goal."
He said there's a public safety concern for those in the area when these sort of incidents happen.
"I mean, that's what teenagers do. But you don't do it in a crowded street with lots of people and with a large police presence," he said.
While the city holds a large fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay each year, fireworks are prohibited in city parks. Toronto police issued a reminder on Thursday about the rules.
"Fireworks are not allowed in parks or on beaches," the city's website says. "You are also not allowed to set off fireworks in a street, a parking lot, on a balcony, or on any private property that is not your own."
With a report from CP24's Beatrice Vaisman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.