: NORTH VANCOUVER RCMP Cpl. Kirby Kinnon displays the fire- works confiscated from focal revelers on Halloween night. Friday, November 3. 1995 — North Shore News — 3 More fireworks restrictions called for BLAZES STARTED by flame- firing youths kept local fire trucks rolling on Halloween. By lan Noble News Reporter Bottle rockets, which emit balls of fire. are suspected in a number of fires that occurred on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. North Vancouver District. fire prevention officer Brian Stegavig said the fire department attended 24 calls on Halloween, 20 of them fireworks related. Each of those inci- dents caused damage to trees and hedges, he One blast broke a window at Brooksbank Elementury school. In another incident, van- dals set a fire using Roman candles inside Upper Lynn elemen- tary at 11:30 p.m, after breaking a window. Custodians put out the blaze, but not before it did $2,000 to $3.000 damuge, said Stegavig. Another incident — occurred Monday afternoon. Two vouths dri- ving by a house at the corner of Sechelt and Berkley shot off the hand-held rockets, lighting a hedge on fire, said Stegavig. - NEWS photo Terry Peters The fire spread quickly. Masked gunman in N. Van fish store fight AN’ARMED robber was foiled Oct. 31 when a feisty fish store manager and a customer subdued the masked gunman. By Michael Becker News Editor the tgtched Halloween robbery played itself out at about 5:30 pam. at Nort Vancouver's Westview shopping centre. A min wearing a stocking over his head and armed with a handgun entered Westview Seafood and ordered the manager to give him money. The fishmonger initially believed he was the vie- tim of a Halloween trick and told the gunman that he “had no candy to offer, When the suspect was distract- ed by a customer, the manager, a black-belt judo expert, grabbed the gunman's arm and forced him to drop the gun. The suspect bolted and was caught by the manag- er and a customer. The duo tussled with the suspect and disarmed him betore police arrived, Rehabilitate existing bridge a and widen three ‘lanes ($90 millfon) isting bridge to four-lane bridge $310 million) :. “To dd potential futtire transit (si80 million- : : $360 million) A woman, ata nearby veterinarian office, praised the quick action on the part of all involved. She heard commotion fron inside the vet's office. Someone was shouting “there's a wun. there’s a gun” and she saw three men fighting in the parking lot. Another bystunder noted the ticence plate nuniber of a suspicious-looking vehicle. The police eventual- ly caught up with the car in West Vancouver on Marine Drive. ‘The driver did not stop for police, sped away and a chase ensued. The vehicle collided with a police cruiser on ‘Taylor Way, Two men inside the car were arrested by the West Vancouver Police. ‘Two- North Vancouver men now face chirges in connection with the incident. Charles Douglas Blancheu, 29, is charged with robbery, possession of a weapon, wearing a disguise with intent to commit a criminal offence and uttering threats. Randy Wanek, 25, is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and dangerous driving, North Vancouver RCMP ask witnesses, including the man who provided the licence plate number, to contact Sgt. Ewert or Const. Richardson at 985-1311. 4. New fourtane bridge $135 milion $420 elton : 5. ‘New four-lane bridge and transit 1s lion-3490 million) 6. Bored tunnels for existing corridor alignment ($350 million} Bored. tunnels for First. Narrows corridor | alignment ($410 million) : ae Immersed tubeleut and cover, for z00 align : ment ($430 million), é 8. Brockton. crossing - connections’ to Upper’ ~ Levels ($700 ‘million to $800 million) Fortunately, 27-year-old cyclist works, Brian Taylor stopped, grabbed a garden hose and kept the fire from reaching the house until the fire department arrived. “fhe hadn't done that, the house would have caught fire ... and there was the possibility of injuries too,” said Stegavig. ; ‘Three people were in the house. A youth was apprehended, Stegavig said. Stegavig said the fireworks are legal for those over 19 years of age, but younger people did most of the damage. Stegavig suid he will be asking North Vancouver District. Council 66 [t's a game to them to be shooting said. them (fireworks) off toward each other. 99 ~~ North Vancouver District fire prevention officer Brian Stegavig. for more restrictions on bottle rock- ets and Roman candles. “They're dangerous when it gets right down to it,” he said. Noting the fireworks are popular with local kids. Stegavig added: “It's a game to them to be shooting them off toward each other.” The outrage over fireworks is not limited to North Vancouver District. Some West Vancouver residents are calling for the abolishment of fire- said West Vancouver Fire Department Assistant Chief Gerry Harrington, From a fire prevention point of view. Harrington supports those calls. Four ornamental hedges fell vic- tim to blazes started by vandals and their fireworks in West Vancouver on Halloween night. Historically. claims for such hedges have varied from a couple of hundred dollars to $5,000, said Harrington. The North Vancouver City fire department reported fireworks were the likely cause of a fire at 9:45 p.m. Halloween night in the 400-block East Ist Street area. The entire roof on the west side of a house was lost in the blaze and drywall inside the house also suffered damage. Damage esti- mates were not avail- able. The tenant. who was not insured, spot- ted two youths, about 15 and 18, in his fenced front yard before they bolted. Both wore jeans, running shoes and dark hoaded sweat shirts. Vinyl! siding on a house on 7th Street was damaged by fireworks also. City fire prevention officer Gavin Soanes said if used responsi- bly, Roman candles are not a prob-. | lem. In the city, written permission © from the fire department is:needed and a person with a fireworks super- visor certificate, must be present to set off the fireworks. : Lions Gate Hospital reported six to eight fireworks-related visits Halloween night. All patients had minor injuries. the vielen say aoe rt 0 ‘ eet tna ober ta ek et Sent CHO Net ww. ne eerhenstaeemroee ce ee “sh tr met te rad Conan 8 te 8 ane ates lt poms ab Saree Carr At poet NEWS photo Terry Peters MERV DUGGAN and CAVEAT B:C. ‘members (Canadians Against. Violence Everywhere Advocating Its. Termination) wiil:be at Park . Royal shopping ‘centre’s south mall tomorrow selling pins costing $5 each. The victims’ rights group will use the money in its lobbying | effort to have convicted murderers serve their full sentences.