Firework safety 2007
Released: 30 October 2007
Council trading standards officers are reminding everyone of key safety measures to follow this Bonfire Night is a safe and enjoyable experience.
However the city council is encouraging everyone to attend organised displays at Hickman Park and West Park to limit the risk of fires and limit noise nuisance.
Celebrations begin on Friday, 2 November, with a bonfire and fireworks display at Hickman Park, Bilston.
Gates open at 5.30pm with a children's fireworks display at 6.30pm, the lighting of the bonfire at 7pm and the main pyrotechnic show at 8pm. Both displays will be set to music.
Then the action moves to West Park, Wolverhampton, on Saturday, 3 November. Again, gates open at 5.30pm with younger members of the audience treated to their very own show at 7pm.
The bonfire gets lit at 7.30pm before the park comes alive to the sound of the main firework display an hour later.
Firework safety
Fireworks are safe if used them properly but they contain explosives and should be treated with respect.
Top tips for a safe home display are:
- Keep children well back from the discharge point
- Don’t use category three ‘Garden Fireworks’ unless you will be 25M from the discharge
- Store fireworks in a cool, dry place
- Don’t take them out until you want to light them and only specified adults in charge of lighting fireworks
- Sparklers should not be given children under 10 as they are the most common cause of burn injuries
- Keep all animals indoors and try to give them space protected from noise as far as possible
- Never return to a firework that fails to go off. Spray it with water and cover with earth if possible
- Never buy from travelling traders or from the back of a van
Bonfire safety
- Site your bonfire away from buildings and remove any rubbish from the area to prevent fire spreading
- Always have it lit by one specified adult
- Never use flammable liquids like paraffin or petrol to get it going as this can result in uncontrolled spread of fire or explosion
- Have water to hand in case the fire gets too big and don’t overload it with wood
- Check immediately before lighting that there’s no animal or even a young child inside
- Never put fireworks on a bonfire
- Don’t burn dangerous rubbish (such as, aerosols, paint tins or foam-filled furniture) that will cause explosion or emit noxious smoke.
Legal issues
Trading Standards service has responsibility for:
- Investigating sales of fireworks to persons under 18 years of age
regulating the sale of excessively noisy, unsafe or category four ‘professional’ fireworks to the public.
Telephone: 01902 551155
Food and Environmental Safety service has responsibility for:
- Regulating the safe operation of organised displays by licensed premises
Telephone: 01902 551155
Public Protection service has responsibility for:
- Enforcing controls on noise nuisance, particularly after 6.00pm when council services are closed via the ‘Out of Hours’ service on 01902 55999
Contact: 01902 551155 from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
Contact 24 Hour Control on 01902 55999 at other times
West Midlands Fire and Rescue service has responsibility for:
- Registering premises to stock fireworks for sale to ensure they are stored safely and securely
Contact: 01902 712016 (Merridale Street)
West Midlands Police service has responsibilty for:
- Enforcing firework use ‘curfew’ provisions that ban use between 11pm and 7am or 12am (midnight) and 7am on 5 November
- Enforcing provisions banning possession of a firework in a public place by a person under 18 years of age and banning possession of category 4 ‘professional’ fireworks by a member of the public
- Anti-social use of fireworks such as discharge in a public place or use causing damage to property
Contact: 0845 113 5000
Enjoy Bonfire Night safely!
Issued by the press office.
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