Tips for staying safe on Bonfire Night

31 October 2023

Whilst firework displays can be great fun, fireworks can be dangerous if they are not used and handled properly.

If you’re planning to put on your own small display, stay safe by following these simple guidelines.

If you have any fire safety concerns with your home, read our fire safety advice.

Bonfires

It’s safer to attend an organised display than to host a bonfire at home. Explore what firework events are being held in your local community.

If you’re planning a small bonfire in your garden, make sure it’s away from sheds, fences, bushes, trees and your home. Bonfires are not to be lit in communal gardens.

Fireworks

Remember that fireworks are explosives and can be dangerous if not handled correctly. Fireworks shouldn’t be used on balconies or communal gardens.

Before your fireworks display

Check the fireworks are ‘CE Marked’ before you buy – only ‘category two’ fireworks (containing less than 500g of gunpowder) are suitable for most private gardens
Ensure your display area is free from hazards
Don’t tamper with fireworks and read the instructions in daylight
Warn neighbours, especially the elderly and those with animals
A clearly identifiable person should be responsible for the fireworks.

Safety checklist during your fireworks display

Metal box with lid to store fireworks (keep closed between uses)
Bucket of water/garden hose for emergencies
Protective hat, eye protection and gloves to avoid any small burns
First aid kit
Bucket (preferably metal) with soft earth to stick the fireworks in
Board for flat-bottomed fireworks and proper launchers for rockets.

Remember:

Light fireworks at arm's length with a taper
Stand well back and never go back to a lit firework
Keep children under control
Never put fireworks in your pocket
Keep naked flames (including cigarettes) away from fireworks.

Throwing a firework is dangerous and illegal. It's a criminal offence to do so in a street or other public place with a maximum £5,000 fine.

Sparkler safety tips

Store sparklers and fireworks in a closed box in a cool, dry place
Always light them one at a time and wear gloves
Plunge finished sparklers – hot end down – into a bucket of water as soon as they have burned out (sparklers can stay hot for a long time)
Don't take sparklers to public displays where it’s too crowded to use them safely
Always take care when holding a sparkler and never hold a child if you have one in your hand
Don’t hand sparklers to children under five.

Visit the Safer Fireworks website for more information.