Fireworks, bonfires and sky lanterns

Organised displays

Having your own display at home can be fun, but here are four reasons why it's a good idea to go to an organised display

1. There are safe places to spectate which have been risk assessed by professionals
2. Fireworks are set off by trained people
3. Organised events have procedures in place should there be an emergency
4. They are more spectacular

Purchasing fireworks

If you are purchasing your own fireworks make sure they have a CE mark on them. This means that they are legally safe and meet all of the regulations by law to be set off.

If you buy fireworks that do not have this marking on them, you should never set them off, and instead should immediately report this to Trading Standards who will take the matter further.

Top firework safety tips

• Keep all fireworks and bonfires away from houses, sheds, fences, and trees as bonfires can spread easily.
• Always keep a bucket of water handy to dispose of sparklers.
• Never give sparklers to children under the age of five years old, and make sure you wear gloves when using them.
• Keep all pets inside and away from bonfires and fireworks.
• Only adults should set off fireworks, so keep them out of reach from children at all times.
• Never go back to a firework after it has been lit, even if it hasn't gone off, there is still a danger that it will.

Bonfire safety

If you are having a bonfire, whether it's to get rid of garden waste or part of a celebration, like Halloween, take care. Follow the simple tips below to make sure you, and others, are safe.

Building a bonfire

Fire can spread easily, so where and how you build your bonfire is important. If you have a bonfire follow these simple guidelines:

• Warn your neighbours beforehand - they are much less likely to complain
• Light the bonfire at a time least likely to affect your neighbours - for example, not on a warm day when people will be in their garden.
• Only burn dry material not damp, which causes more smoke.
• Build the bonfire away from sheds, fences, and trees.
• Check there are no cables, like telephone wires, above the bonfire.
• Don't use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going as it may get out of control quickly.
• As a rule of thumb, the bonfire should be a minimum of five times its height from the property.

Bonfire safety tips

Once the bonfire is lit, make sure you:

• Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby in case of emergencies.
• Don't leave the bonfire unattended.
• Keep children and pets away from the bonfire.
• Don't throw any fireworks into the fire.
• Don't burn aerosols, tyres, canisters or anything containing foam or paint - many produce toxic fumes and some containers may explode, causing injury.

Once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water to stop it from reigniting.

Getting rid of your garden waste without a bonfire

You can get rid of your garden waste without making a bonfire. Most garden waste, like grass cuttings and leaves, can be recycled by composting. Your local council may also run a garden waste collection scheme.

Sky lanterns

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service do not encourage the use of sky lanterns when celebrating, however, if people are going to use them, we want you to do it safely:

• The safest option is to not use sky lanterns at all – consider alternatives such as LED lanterns
• Only release lanterns in wide-open spaces, well away from buildings, vehicles, crops, and woodland
• Check the weather conditions first – strong winds or dry spells increase the risk of fires spreading
• Never release lanterns indoors or in built-up areas
• Ensure the lantern is properly assembled
• Do not allow children to light or handle the lanterns
• Avoid releasing lanterns near farms or animal enclosures
• Always keep water or an extinguisher nearby

If a fire does occur, then call 999 – we advise having What3Words downloaded too, so you can inform emergency services of your exact location in an emergency.