Halloween mischief on the decline on P.E.I.: police, fire agencies

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, police across P.E.I are stepping up their presence,to prevent mischief and keep trick-or-treaters and property safe even though tricks are on the decline.

"We're hoping that this year as in past years, it's been relatively quiet, the trend seems to be that Halloweens there's not near as much mischief as there used to be," said Charlottetown's deputy police chief Gary McGuigan.

Nonetheless, McGuigan said, police plan toincreasefoot patrols, staffmore marked and unmarked police vehicles, and do random road stops on Saturday evening.

"Back before my time, 20, 25 years ago, it used to be -- I hear stories of how bad it used to be," said deputy North River fire chief Anson Grant.

Grant says he doesn't expect a busy night, however. Nothing like the old days.

Some people feel it's a free ticket out, cause it's Halloween.- Anson Grant, North River Fire Dept.

"There'd be 15 or 20 calls in a night, mostly small stuff -- bales of hay on fire, tires in the middle of the road," said Grant.

"Some people feel it's a free ticket out, 'cause it's Halloween and they're allowed to do that. But most people realize it's not a good idea," he said.

Instead, Grant says most of the department's 32 volunteer firefighters are looking forward to getting together, playing cards and "making the most" of spending a weekend night on duty at the station.

There has been a downward trend in the number of Halloween fires over the past number of years, according to P.E.I.'s fire marshal.

"And we hope that trend will continue this Halloween," the fire marshal's office said in a written statement Friday.

"Malicious and nuisance fires endanger people and property, put firefighters at risk, and tie up valuable lifesaving resources that could be needed elsewhere," it said.

• Tips for a safe Halloween weekendon P.E.I.
• Charlottetown Police Halloween safety advice

Police will be "making sure that drivers are aware that we are there and just urging them to use caution because a lot of these kids that are out trick-or-treating are in a big rush to get from house to house," said McGuigan.

Some common-sense advice:

• Keep the path leading up to your door free of obstacles.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Use safety glow sticks inside jack-o'-lanterns instead of candles.
• Wear light-coloured or bright costumes.
• Inspect kids' candy before they eat it.

Summerside police also said they will have extra members on duty. The major crime section will be working as well. RCMP are telling drivers to slow down and use extra caution.

Firefighters also remind Islanders to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they turn back the clocks on Friday night from summer's daylight saving hours, and go over a home fire drill plan.