Don’t Pay The Price This Bonfire Night! Attend An Organised Display!
As Halloween and November 5th draw closer, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) is urging the public not to pay the price this bonfire night and celebrate this year’s Bonfire Night in the safest way possible by attending an official, organised public firework display, which are much safer, more entertaining and much more cost effective than private displays.
In recent years, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has seized over half a ton and in excess of £10,000 worth of illegal fireworks. These illegal fireworks are often sold onto the public at a lower price than the shops and supermarkets selling fireworks legally to the public.
The Service is also working with its partners such as Gwent Police, South Wales Police and RSCPA Cymru to stop members of the public from selling and purchasing illegal fireworks. This partnership working aims to reduce the misuse of fireworks and anti-social behaviour. The Service’s Fire Crime Unit will be patrolling high risk areas in the lead up to and over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period.
Matt Jones, Head of Fire Crime at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said, “Every year, crews spend a great deal of time responding to calls caused by the misuse of fireworks, and it’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured.
“We want people to celebrate this year’s Bonfire Night in the safest way possible, and are encouraging them to attend organised public firework displays in their area, which are much safer, more entertaining and much more cost effective.”
SWFRS advises that for those individual who wish to buy fireworks for private displays, to always rigorously follow the Fireworks Code:
- Light sparklers one at time and wear gloves
- Never give sparklers to a child under 5
- Buy fireworks marked BS 7114
- Keep fireworks in a closed box
- Follow the instructions on each firework
- Light them at arm’s length using a taper
- Stand well back
- Never go back to a lit firework
- Never put fireworks in your pocket
- Never throw fireworks
- Keep cats and dogs inside
RSCPA Cymru advises to keep dogs and cats indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off, but for small animals that live outdoors the advice is to consider bringing them indoors, but it needs to be done gradually because of things like a sudden change in temperature.
The Service is also asking its communities to be vigilant for any suspicious or anti-social behaviour activity over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period and if they observe any to contact their local Police by either calling a station or contacting 101 to report it.
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