Out-of-control bonfire in Bromley took two dozen firefighters five hours to extinguish, and was among more than 800 incidents on this November 5
Stay safe: the LFB has repeated its appeal for the public to attend organised firework displays
Bonfire Night 2025 will go down as the busiest for the capital’s firefighters in a decade, with the London Fire Brigade now bracing itself for a weekend of firework-related bedlam and destruction if the public fail to follow simple safety advice.
LFB control officers took 831 calls on Wednesday, November 5, the highest figure on Bonfire Night since 2016 and a 20% increase on the number of calls received in 2024.
“While firefighters responded to a similar number of firework-related calls and incidents as last year, control officers handled over 30% more calls about bonfires,” the Brigade said.
Before November 5, the LFB had had to deal with instances of people setting off fireworks on board a London bus, and a case where fireworks were set off in the communal area of a block of flats.
Social media this week showed some youths setting off rockets in the middle of residential streets, close to homes and parked cars – some of which may have had fuel tanks containing highly flammable petrol.
On Wednesday, some of the calls taken by the Brigade included a fire in a flat in Whitechapel, reportedly caused by fireworks, a tree alight on Brixton Hill and a grass fire in Bromley caused by an out-of-control bonfire.
It took 25 firefighters and four fire engines to tackle the grass fire on Garden Lane, which was reported at 5.31pm, with the fire extinguished just before 10pm.
An area of felled wood was destroyed by the fire. There were no reports of any injuries.
Assistant Commissioner Thomas Goodall said that on Wednesday night, “…our control officers and firefighters worked exceptionally hard, handling an extremely high number of calls and mobilising wherever we were needed across the capital.
“We’re anticipating another busy weekend of celebrations, so we’re continuing to ask Londoners to help us utilise our resources wisely. Our advice is not to host your own celebrations and instead, find an organised display nearby.
“If you are going to host your own display, it’s important to ensure you are buying safe fireworks from a reputable, licensed seller with a CE safety mark. Secure them properly in the ground, and keep them far away from buildings, trees, animals and people.
“Always follow the Fireworks Code and remember there are strict laws around when you can purchase and use fireworks. Never set them off if you’ve been drinking alcohol and once a firework is lit, never go back to it.
“Disposing of fireworks safely is just as important as using them correctly. Allow fireworks to cool properly before throwing them away.
“We’re also urging people to consider if their bonfire is necessary and to take care if you’re burning waste at home.
“If you are going to light a bonfire, never leave it unattended and consider your neighbours when you do decide to have a fire in your garden.
“Make sure you build it well clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences and hedges and never use flammable liquids to start it or burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans. Always keep a bucket of water or a hosepipe nearby in case of fire.
“Always check your local authority’s advice on bonfires and follow our safety tips.”
PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
