Despite the US having celebrated the dress-up-and-beg-for-candy holiday since the especially flammable 19th century, officials in Hammond, IN, have decided that Halloween costumes pose a fire hazard.

Therefore, there will be no Halloween in Hammond schools this year.

From Fox 19, Cincinnati:

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - Hammond schools are banning Halloween costumes and parades this fall, citing safety concerns.

School officials say they’re concerned about evacuating school buildings full of costumed children in event of a fire and are worried about the safety of costumed students walking down the street. They’ve also had complaints about celebrating Halloween.

So instead of holding Halloween parties at the schools, they’ll have a fall festival. Costumes will not be allowed at the fall festival, although some P-T-A organizations may offer parties after school.

The changes were outlined in a letter sent home to parents. School officials say they’ve had only three complaints from parents of their six-thousand children in grades Kindergarten through sixth.

The “public safety” excuse is bollocks.

If evacuation-friendly dress is important on Halloween, it should be important every day. Therefore, schools should institute dress codes requirements of, say, flame-retardant jogging suits and running shoes.

And if they work it right, Nike would probably sponsor the effort.