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Bonfire safety

Safety is always a priority whether you're arranging a public bonfire display or one for just your family and friends. So whatever size event you're planning, our guide on bonfire safety could provide useful tips and advice to help your event go with a bang.

Organising a public display

Ahead of the event establish an organising committee with each member of that committee having responsibility for a particular task, including:

• Ensuring that the bonfire is built safely
• Keeping the public at a safe distance (at least 25 metres)
• Ensuring that the bonfire is extinguished safely at the end of the evening
• Ensuring availability of emergency telephones for emergency use
• It is essential that the organisers of any event take out adequate insurance to cover personal injury or damage to property

Contacts

The following organisations should be consulted and given details of the event including the location, date and time.

• Local Fire Brigade
• Police
• Local Council (Environmental Health Services)
• Appropriate first aid organisation
• Local media

Warn other people, particularly farmers on nearby farms or other residential, commercial or industrial premises which may be affected.

Stewards

It is vital to have enough stewards and for them to be properly trained by a competent person to cover the following duties:

• Acting as car park attendants
• Providing information
• Monitoring the bonfire area
• Keeping spectators behind barriers
• Preventing anything being thrown onto the bonfire
• Managing the public
• Collecting rubbish
• Clearing up after the bonfire
• Calling and liasing with the emergency services as necessary
• Stewards should be over 18 years of age and readily identifiable by wearing a florescent jacket.
• There should be sufficient artificial lighting provided at all entrances and exits so that people can arrive and leave safely. All stewards should also have a torch

Essential equipment

There must be adequate fire fighting equipment to hand consisting of some or all of the following depending on the advice of the local fire authority:

• Two 9 litre water fire extinguishers
• A hose (where mains water is available)
• Buckets of water or sand
• Fire beaters
• Fire blanket

Bonfires should be kept well away from trees, buildings and overhead cables and must be roped off to prevent spectators coming to close to the fire.

Planning a domestic bonfire or firework display

• Inform neighbours and be aware of their concerns
• Read firework instructions in daylight
• One person clearly identified should be responsible for dealing with the fireworks

Storage

• Fireworks for private displays can only be kept for less than 14 days before being used (Control of Explosives Regulations 1991)
• Fireworks should be kept in a sealed, marked metal box in a safe dry place.
• They should be stored well away from heat and naked flame.
• Potential hazards to think about include sparks from electrical & gas appliances, matches, garden and DIY tools and accessories, petrol in cans and cars parked in the garage.
• Take precautions to ensure that children cannot access the stored fireworks.

Things you will need on the night

• Torch for checking instructions
• Bucket of water
• Eye protection and gloves

During the display

• Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
• Light fireworks at arms length with a taper
• Stand well back and keep others back
• NEVER go back to a lit firework
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
• Always supervise children
• Store fireworks in a metal box kept closed between use
• Keep pets indoors

Bonfires

Bonfires should be at least 18 metres (60ft) away from houses, trees, hedges fences, sheds and motor vehicles. Avoid overhead power lines, and make sure the bonfire is downwind of your spectator area

• Before lighting, check carefully underneath for nesting hedgehogs
• Use domestic firelighters
• Never use petrol, paraffin or other flammable liquids
• Keep fireworks well away
• Wear heavy-duty clothing
• Keep the overall size of the bonfire as small as is necessary

NEVER get complacent with fireworks. They are explosives and are extremely dangerous.

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