Bonfire Night Safety Advice - Part 1

Bonfire / Firework Safety

Officers will be carrying out extra patrols in your area to keep you safe, however there are number of steps you can take to ensure a great Bonfire Night. Remember:

• An organised display is the safest way to enjoy fireworks.
• Fireworks are noisy (which can upset very young or elderly people as well as pets). They can cause damage and they can cause serious injuries if not used properly.
• Only buy fireworks from a legitimate retailer.
• It is an offence to buy fireworks by anyone under the age of 18. You can be fined or imprisoned for buying or using fireworks illegally.
• Shops are not allowed to sell fireworks louder than 120 decibels.
• It is an offence to let fireworks off between 11pm and 7am except on 5th November when the cut off is midnight and on Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year when the cut off is 1am. It is also an offence to set off fireworks in the street, onto a road or in a public place.
• Anyone caught causing a nuisance with fireworks will receive an instant fine of £80 and any fireworks found on a person under 18 will be confiscated.
• Always inform your neighbours if you are using fireworks and be considerate.
• Keep bonfires small and manageable and build them away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees, bushes and vehicles.
• Never use flammable liquids – paraffin or petrol – to light the fire.
• Avoid drinking alcohol whilst in charge of a bonfire or fireworks and particularly when supervising children.
• In case of an emergency, keep buckets of water, the garden hose or a fire extinguisher ready.
• Make sure your fireworks conform to British Standards BS 7114, EN 14035 or EN 15947.
• Keep fireworks in a closed box and use/light them one at a time.
• Light the firework at arm’s length using a taper or fuse wick and stand well back - never return to a firework once it has been lit.
• Only children over the age of five are allowed to use sparklers and should be supervised by an adult at all times.
• Remember, if you break the law on fireworks you could be sent to prison for up to six months or a child’s parents or carers could receive a fine.

Fireworks Code - Before they explode read the code!

1 Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves

2 Never give sparklers to a child under 5

3 Buy fireworks marked BS 7114

4 Keep fireworks in a closed box

5 Follow the instructions on each firework

6 Light them at arm’s length using a taper

7 Stand well back

8 Never go back to a lit firework

9 Never put fireworks in your pocket

10 Never throw fireworks

11 Keep pets indoors