Bonfire Night Safety
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service are urging families to think twice about home firework displays, but if you do choose to have one, please plan and prepare carefully to be as safe as possible.
We want everyone to enjoy the bonfire season responsibly and encourage multiple families not to host their own bonfires or events.
Garden bonfires can easily get out of control. Not only do these pose a serious risk to yourself, your family and the public, but they also take our crews away from other potentially life-threatening incidents.
A great deal of work goes into preparing communities for the bonfire period, in order to clear any potential fuel for deliberate fire setting.
If you have a safe place to do so and want to celebrate with fireworks in the comfort of your own garden or on other private land (with the landowner's permission), there's nothing to stop you and there's no reason why you can't enjoy a great evening. But remember that both you and your guests will need to take care.
These tips are to help you think about and prepare for a fun and safe celebration at home.
Plan ahead:
Fireworks must be stored safely, in a closed box, somewhere cool and dry, out of reach of children and animals, until the time they are needed. Don't keep the box under the stairs or in a passageway.
Do you have a large enough space to let fireworks off safely? Each firework should have a minimum safety distance marked on it.
Be considerate to your neighbours: warn them beforehand so they can take in their washing, close windows, keep their pets indoors and, if necessary, take other precautions.
Only buy fireworks from reputable dealers. The fireworks should have the product safety marking BS7114 or equivalent and carry a CE mark.
- Fireworks must only be handled and lit by responsible adults.
- Alcohol and fire don't mix - nor do alcohol and fireworks.
- Keep fireworks in a closed box well away from the bonfire or any other sources of heat or fire.
- Follow the instructions on each firework. Different fireworks can present different hazards and so the instructions vary.
- Use a torch if you read the instructions in the dark - do not use a naked flame.
- Let fireworks off one at a time.
- Do not throw fireworks - it is highly dangerous.
- Light them at arm's length, using a taper.
- Never play with fireworks - they are explosives and can hurt you.
- When you are watching fireworks, stand well back.
- Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn't gone off, it could still explode.
- Hold sparklers one at a time in gloved hands at arm's length. When the sparkler goes out, it is still very hot so discard it in a bucket of water.
- Never leave matches or lighters lying around.
- We recommend that you do not use sky lanterns as you have no control over them once they've been set off. They can kill animals, litter the countryside and start fires. If you do choose to set them off, always follow the manufacturers' guidance/instructions carefully.
Pick up the spent firework cases - they can still be dangerous. Look for fireworks with a torch. Use tongs or some other suitable tool and wear heatproof gloves.
Don't allow children to collect firework cases.
If a firework looks like it hasn't gone off after at least half an hour, soak it in water to prevent it reigniting.
A bonfire or beacon are great ways to celebrate Bonfire Night and other events, but do follow these safety tips:
You can't get rid of household waste on the bonfire - it can cause pollution or harm people's health. You should always burn dry material as it produces less smoke. Never burn treated wood, rubber, plastic, foam or paint.
Build your bonfire well clear of buildings, roads, garden sheds, fences, trees and hedges and, if possible, choose somewhere sheltered from the wind to minimise the risk of the bonfire being blown out of control or smoke restricting the vision of road users.
Check there are no cables - like telephone wires - above the bonfire.
Before you light the bonfire, check whether any pets, wildlife or small children have crawled inside.
Always keep a bucket of water or a working hosepipe nearby.
Never use flammable liquids to start a bonfire and never throw on fireworks or burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries.
Don't leave bonfires unattended and keep children and pets away. A responsible adult should supervise the bonfire until it has burnt out.
Once the bonfire has died down, pour water on the embers to stop it reigniting.
- Stand well back from any lit firework
- Keep pets indoors
- Keep fireworks in a closed box
- Only buy fireworks that are CE marked
- Light at arm's length, using a taper
- Follow the instructions on each firework
- Never give sparklers to a child under five
- Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
- Always supervise children around fireworks
- Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
- Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
- Never go near a firework that has been lit - even if it hasn't gone off it could still explode
Effective first aid following a burn or scald can make an enormous difference in recovery times and the severity of scarring. Remember to COOL, CALL, COVER.
First aid advice from the British Burn Association:
- Cool the burn with running cold tap water for 20 minutes and remove all clothing and jewellery (unless it is melted or firmly stuck to the wound).
- Call for help: 999, 111 or local GP for advice.
- Cover with cling film or a sterile, non-fluffy dressing or cloth. Make sure the patient is kept warm.