Firework safety. It’s not rocket science!

Published: 30 October 2023

With bonfire night and Diwali just around the corner, it’s time to brush up on firework safety.

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is at an organised display. If you’re planning a display at home, make sure that your fireworks are purchased from a licensed premises, they have a CE mark or UKCA mark, and include clear instructions and warnings.

For storage, fireworks should be kept out of reach of children and animals, and away from flammable materials.

By law, fireworks cannot be set off or thrown in any public space or carried by anyone under 18.

When using fireworks at home, make sure you take the following precautions to keep you, your family and your friends safe:

• Light sparklers one at a time, wearing gloves and never give sparklers to a child under 5. Children over 5 must be supervised and sparklers should be placed into water after use.
• Light fireworks at arm’s length using a taper then stand well back. Never return to a lit firework.
• Never throw fireworks or put them in your pocket.
• Have a full bucket of water handy for any emergency, and for putting used sparklers into.
• If you have a bonfire, make sure it is put out and the surrounding area is made safe before leaving.

When planning a home display, you should also consider your neighbours, who may be elderly, have young children or pets, and could be unable to cope with sudden loud noises.

Reduced noise fireworks are an ideal solution, particularly in built up areas, as they provide the same visual impact without the noise.

If you do decide to use standard fireworks, be courteous to your neighbours and let them know when your display will be. Remember that fireworks must not be set off between 11pm and 7am. There are some exceptions:

• On Bonfire Night the cut off is midnight
• On New Years Eve, Diwali, and Chinese New Year the cut off is 1am

Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regulatory Services, said:

"Fireworks can be a great way to celebrate, there are plenty of organised displays across the city for citizens to enjoy. I would urge anyone planning a home display to exercise caution and to respect their neighbours, or attend an organised display instead."

Group Manager David Diggins, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:

"Bonfire Night can be great fun and we want people of all ages to enjoy the festivities, but our priority is that people keep safe.  

“There are numerous organised displays to choose from and I would recommend that anyone who wants to enjoy a safe and hassle free evening attend one of these, where they can relax and enjoy the spectacle safely and without risk."

You can find more firework safety guidance on the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service website.

Community, Public safety