Safety first: the London Fire Brigade and charities including RoSPA and the RSPCA all recommend going to organised Bonfire Night displays
Safety charity RoSPA has issued a fireworks warning ahead of Bonfire Night, after official figures showed a 42% increase in incidents this time last year compared to 2023.
“Organised displays remain the safest option,” says the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
RoSPA has also expressed concern over the increased number of cancelled organised firework displays across the country – many due to cut-backs in local council spending.
Data from last year shows 264 fireworks-related incidents, up from 185 the previous year.
The Home Office statistics “highlight a worrying trend in unsafe firework use”, according to RoSPA.
“Most incidents involved ‘other primary fires’, which include outdoor fires in bins, grassland, and vehicles, likely caused by improper handling or disposal of fireworks,” the charity said today.
Halloween horrors: the LFB had to deal with fireworks being set off on a bus and inside blocks of flats last weekend. A house in Ilford was set on fire by fireworks
“Fireworks are a leading cause of seasonal fire injuries and property damage. Despite ongoing safety campaigns, human error remains the primary factor in more than 75% of incidents.”
The figures are backed up by concerns raised this autumn by the London Fire Brigade over the reckless use of fireworks, often from back garden displays.
The Brigade says it handled more than 60 call-outs related to fireworks in October, with 27 of these occurring last weekend, at Halloween. Incidents included fireworks misuse near a hospital in Hampstead, fireworks being set off on a bus and in communal areas of flats, a balcony fire in Tulse Hill, rubbish set alight in Lewisham, and bushes, trees and sheds catching fire elsewhere across the capital.
A house in Ilford caught fire as a consequence of fireworks misuse.
“Misusing fireworks is illegal and we are asking Londoners not to purchase fireworks for personal displays,” said a London Fire Brigade spokesperson.
“When you misuse fireworks, it risks lives and takes resources away from other emergencies across the capital. Instead, attend an organised display which will be safer, cheaper and more spectacular.”
And RoSPA’s Rebecca Guy said: “Fireworks are powerful explosives, not toys.
“Only adults should handle them and never mix alcohol with lighting fireworks.
“The shocking rise in incidents over the past year is a stark reminder of the dangers they pose when misused. We strongly advise families to attend organised displays wherever possible, as they are far safer than home-based celebrations.”
Read more: Charity appeals for reforms to reduce pets’ Fearworks Night
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Good advice, but isn’t it a bit late? I bet a lot of people have already bought fireworks for private displays.