Fireworks Safety: Top Tips to Keep Your Night Bang-Free!
Bonfire Night and other firework celebrations are brilliant fun — but only if you stay safe! Follow our no-nonsense guide to lighting up the sky without lighting up trouble.
Essential Safety Tips for Bonfires, Sparklers & Fireworks
- Plan your fireworks display carefully. Make sure it ends before 11pm to keep things neighbourly.
- Buy only CE-marked fireworks. Keep them in the box and use one at a time.
- Always read the instructions — use a torch if you need to.
- Light fireworks at arm’s length with a taper, then step well back.
- Keep all naked flames, including cigarettes, far from fireworks.
- Never go back to a firework once it’s been lit.
- Don’t stash fireworks in your pockets or throw them about.
- Aim rocket fireworks well away from spectators.
- Never pour petrol or paraffin on a bonfire — it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
- Build bonfires away from buildings, sheds, fences, and hedges.
- Always ensure your fire is completely out and the area safe before leaving.
- Don’t leave bonfires unattended. An adult should watch until the flames die out. If you must leave, soak the fire thoroughly with water.
- Keep a bucket of water or hosepipe handy in case of emergencies.
Who Can Buy Fireworks?
Only adults aged 18 and over can buy and set off fireworks. No exceptions.
When Can You Buy Fireworks?
Buying fireworks is restricted to specific times:
- From 15 October to 10 November
- Between 26 and 31 December
- Three days before Diwali
- Three days before Chinese New Year
Outside these periods, you must shop at special licensed outlets.
When Can You Let Off Fireworks?
The law bans fireworks (sparklers included) between 11pm and 7am for most of the year. But special rules apply:
- Bonfire Night: fireworks allowed until midnight
- New Year’s Eve, Diwali, and Chinese New Year: off-limits after 1am
Which Fireworks Should You Buy?
Always pick fireworks with the CE mark — your stamp of safety. Only buy up to Category 3 for private use. Here’s what the categories mean:
- Category 1: Low hazard, tiny bangs, safe for indoors and limited spaces. Think party poppers and Christmas crackers.
- Category 2 & 3: Standard adult fireworks available in shops and supermarkets. Look for F2 or F3 on the box.
- Category 4: Professional display fireworks, banned for sale to the public, sold only by specialists.
Stick to these rules, and your fireworks will sparkle safely all night long!
