Ten top tips to stay safe during firework and bonfire displays

Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service is urging people to stay safe if they are going to hold their own firework or bonfire displays.

Fireworks are fun but pose a danger if mishandled or misused. The Service would always recommend going to an official display as it is safer, but if you are having a display at home then here are ten simple safety measures you should follow.

• Make sure you follow manufacturer instructions carefully and read them in the day or by torchlight, never by a naked flame.
• Never go back to a firework once it has been lit and never throw a firework or put it in your pocket.
• Light fireworks at arm’s length, using a safety firework lighter or fuse wick, and stand well back. Collect fireworks after a display with care.
• Douse them with water and dispose of them properly in a metal container.
• Sparklers can reach temperatures of 100°C, so stay safe by ensuring you always wear gloves, preferably leather ones.
• Supervise children with sparklers and don’t give one to children under the age of five. Hold sparklers at an arm’s length, and don’t wave them near other people. Put used sparklers into a bucket of sand or water.
• Bonfires are a hazard at any time of the year. Make sure you build them well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs.
• Never use flammable liquids to light the fire such as paraffin or petrol, and don’t burn furniture, aerosols or bottles.
• Never leave a bonfire unsupervised – especially around children. Pour water on embers before leaving.
• And always remember to have a bucket of water, garden hose or fire extinguisher ready and on standby, and never drink alcohol when in charge of a bonfire or fireworks display.

Lisa Bryan, Prevention Manager at Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We know how popular fireworks are at this time of year, and we want to make sure that everyone can enjoy them in a safe and responsible manner.

“We would always recommend going to an official firework display, but if people do want to hold home displays, then please take every precaution possible to make sure there is no risk.

“If not held properly, home displays have the potential not just to injure people but also put nearby properties at risk of fire.

“So please follow the safety advice from the Fire Service and make sure that you purchase any fireworks from a reputable source.”

Further firework advice from the Trading Standards Team at West Northamptonshire Council can be found here: West Northants Trading Standards issues firework safety warning | West Northamptonshire Council

And further safety tips can be found on our Be Bonfire Safe leaflet, which can be viewed by clicking here.