Public fireworks displays have been cancelled this year
(Picture: Getty Images)Bonfire night 2020 is set to look very different than previous years. With England going into lockdown 2.0 on Thursday, November 5, big displays and gatherings are off the cards and many will host their own firework displays in their gardens.
It is legal to set off fireworks on your own property, but you must not let them off or throw them in the street or other public places. For much of the year, you must not let off fireworks between the hours of 11pm and 7am, however the curfew is extended to midnight on Bonfire Night.
If you’re planning a display for your family, it’s important to be as safe as possible. Here are some must-know tips for handling sparklers and rockets correctly, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents:
Firework safety tips
Always buy fireworks from a reputable retailer and ensure they carry the CE mark.
Make sure to keep them in an closed box and always only use one at a time.
Members of the public are allowed to set off the majority of fireworks that fall in categories 1 to 3. Any packaged in brown paper are for professionals.
The firework must be suitable for the area you are setting it off from.
Remember to read the instructions in daylight before lighting, and use a torch if necessary.
Only one person should be in charge of lighting the fireworks. Keep them at arm's length when lighting them and remember to stand well back when it's lit.
Do not smoke or have naked flames around the firework, and whoever is in charge should not drink any alcohol beforehand.
Never return to a firework once it is lit.
Fireworks should never be put in pockets, thrown or directed towards anyone watching.
The Fire Service website recommends you should have the following:
- A torch
- A bucket or two of water
- Eye protection and gloves
- A bucket of soft earth to put fireworks in
- Suitable supports and launchers if you’re setting off Catherine wheels or rocket
Safety tips for sparklers
Sparklers are not toys and should not be given to children under five-years-old.
Make sure to wear gloves when handling them and hold them at arm's length while they are being lit.
Lighting sparklers should be done one at a time.
Once lit, do not wave them close to other people.
Do not hold a baby while you are holding a sparkler. Once it is finished, put it in a bucket of water.
