Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service – Advice for a safe Bonfire Night

by admin | 29th October 2013

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service – Advice for a safe Bonfire Night

With Bonfire Night fast approaching, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is warning people not to take risks with fireworks.

While most people treat fireworks with respect, a small minority treat them as toys and forget that they are actually explosives. To stay safe this Bonfire Night, always remember the following advice:

• 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 use 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.
• Keep pets indoors.

Bonfires present additional hazards when it’s dark. If you must light a bonfire in connection with a fireworks display, then:

• Site it 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 such as paraffin or petrol to light the fire.
• Don’t burn foam-filled furniture, aerosols, tins of paint or bottles.
• Keep everyone away from the fire, especially children, who must be supervised all the time.
• In case of emergency, keep buckets of water, the garden hose or a fire extinguisher ready.

Pour water on the embers before leaving

 

Michael Franklin MInstLM

Partnership & Community Engagement Manager (Wiltshire Council Area)

Community Safety ;Protection & Partnerships Department

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

Hilperton Road

TROWBRIDGE

BA14 7JB

Tele: 07919 306037

e-mail: michael.franklin@wiltsfire.gov.uk

Page last updated: October 29th, 2013 at 3:24 am