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Firework safety advice

Remember, remember the fifth of November. Why? Because it's Guy Fawkes Night.

The annual occasion, also known as Bonfire Night, is celebrated with fireworks.

As with every year, families are being warned about the dangers of fires and the use of fireworks:

  • when purchasing fireworks, buy them from a reliable shop, rather than from a van or a temporary market stall - fireworks are available to buy between 15 October and 10 November
  • keep a bucket of water at hand to cool sparklers and put out any small fires
  • when lighting fireworks, make sure everyone stands well back
  • make sure you supervise any children using sparklers
  • keep pets indoors as most animals can become scared by the lights and noise from fireworks
  • take care around bonfires - all clothes, even those labelled low flammability, can catch fire

People can enjoy the sights of fireworks on Bonfire Night, until midnight. After 12am, it's illegal to let off fireworks, and it's against the law to set off or throw fireworks in the street or other public places.

For more information about firework safety and the law, visit the Home and community section on Directgov.


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