fireworks

FIREWORKS & BONFIRES

“Fireworks are dangerous and can be lethal” is the message from Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service. This safety message not only applies to Bonfire night, but includes other celebrations including the various religious festivals and of course, New Year.
New Fireworks Regulations came into force in August 2004; the main changes to the existing legislation are as follows:

No person under the age of eighteen years shall possess an adult firework in a public place, which includes any place to which the public have or are permitted access, whether on payment or otherwise.
No person shall use an adult firework during night hours except during a permitted fireworks night. In this regulation, "night hours" means the period beginning at 11 pm and ending at 7 am the following day and a "permitted fireworks night" means a period -

(a) beginning at 11 pm on the first day of the Chinese New Year and ending at 1 am the following day;

(b) beginning at 11 pm on 5th November and ending at 12 am the following day;

(c) beginning at 11 pm on the day of Diwali and ending at 1 am the following day; or

(d) beginning at 11 pm on 31st December and ending at 1 am the following day.
Note - Fireworks excludes: a cap, cracker snap, novelty match, party popper, serpent, sparkler or throwdown

The Fireworks Regulations 2004 can be found in full here.

The utmost care is necessary in their storage, handling and use, whether you are organising a display for the family, friends or the general public. Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service want you to have a safe event - by following some simple do’s and don’ts risks can be greatly reduced.”

DO’S and DON’TS

Keep fireworks in a closed metal box and take them out one at a time.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on each firework. Read them by torchlight – NEVER a naked flame.
Light fireworks at arm’s length using a safety firework lighter or fuse wick.
Stand back after lighting.
NEVER go back to a firework once lit – it may go off in your face.
Keep a bucket of water handy.
Used fireworks should be collected after the display with care. Douse with water, bury or place in a metal container.
Keep children under control. (See BONFIRES below)
Keep pets indoors.

BONFIRES
Bonfires present additional hazards when it’s dark.

DO’S AND DON’TS
If you must light a bonfire, in connection with a fireworks display, then:

Site well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs AND ALWAYS AWAY FROM FIREWORKS.
Before lighting the fire check that no pets or children are hiding inside it.
Build the stack so that it is stable and will not collapse outwards or to one side.
NEVER use flammable liquids – paraffin or petrol – to light the fire.
Don’t burn foam-filled furniture, aerosols, and tins of paint or bottles.
Keep everyone away from the fire – especially children, who must be supervised all the time.
For an emergency keep buckets of water, the garden hose or a fire extinguisher ready.
Pour water on the embers before leaving.

Disposing of Fireworks

If a firework is completely spent after a display etc, this should be disposed off firstly in a bucket of water then preferably the following day can be put into a rubbish/waste bin.

If the firework for some reason has not gone off correctly or is not spent these should be preferably dampened/soaked and then securely stored and help from the supplier/manufacturer should be sought to dispose of the firework.

Anyone wishing to obtain further fire safety advice should contact the Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service Community Fire Safety Helpline on (01380) 731119.