Fire Service urges people to follow safety advice when having bonfires and fireworks at home

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) would like to remind people to stay safe around bonfires and fireworks this season.

While the number of bonfire and firework related fires we attend remains low, out of control fires of this kind can be devastating.

The Service would always recommend going to an official display, but if you are doing your own display or bonfire, please remember the following advice to keep yourself and your homes safe.

Before lighting any fireworks, you should always 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. If you plan to have a bonfire, 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.

Before lighting a bonfire, always check the structure is sound and there are no small children or animals hiding inside. And always 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.

NFRS recommends having one person responsible for lighting a bonfire. That person, and any helpers, should wear suitable clothing such as a substantial outer garment made of wool or other low flammable material and strong boots or shoes.

Tina Collett, Prevention Team Leader at Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We would always recommend going to an official firework display, but if you are planning to have fireworks or a bonfire at home during this period, please follow safety advice and take care.

Fireworks can be fun and beautiful, but they can also cause devastating injuries to people and damage to property if they are used in the wrong way. Please also be mindful of others and pets, as this time can be unsettling for some.

If your own bonfire begins to get out of control, or you see any unattended fires and anti-social behaviour surrounding fire and fireworks, please call 999.”

In the last three years NFRS has attended a total of 22 fires on bonfire night and 7 fires caused by fireworks.

While the number of fires we attend during this period is reducing year by year, we are still urging people to follow safety advice to keep themselves, their families, and their homes safe.