A firework ban has been declared in New Caledonia until the end of February.
The restrictions don't apply to the sale of fireworks but limit their use to two days, which are Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
Firefighters have welcomed the decree, warning that violations will be punished and perpetrators prompting a call-out will be billed.
A distributor has told Noumea's daily newspaper that demand keeps growing, with his business alone importing 100 tonnes of fireworks.
