Every year injuries occur and property is damaged due to unsupervised or poorly organised firework displays. Noise from fireworks and firework displays can have significant impact on vulnerable people and pets.

If you run an event as a businesses or other organisation, either free or by payment you will also need to have insurance in place and complete risk assessments to ensure you, your helpers or staff and the public are safe. For support about health and safety for events, please visit the Health and Safety Executive (opens in a new window) website.

If you decide to use fireworks at home, here’s how everyone can stay safe.

Safety tips

• Keep fireworks in a closed metal 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
• Keep a bucket of water nearby if you are setting off fireworks in your garden
• Never throw fireworks
• Keep pets indoors
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix and may lead to injury
• Read all the instructions - the box of fireworks will tell you important things like how far away people need to stand back once the firework is lit If you don’t understand the instructions and warnings, don’t use the firework
• Dispose of fireworks safely - ensure that fireworks are out, soak them in water overnight, then put them in a rubbish bag and in the bin.

Other safety tips

• Buy fireworks from a reputable retailer
• Always supervise children around fireworks
• Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
• Never give sparklers to a child under five
• Prepare for the party in advance and in daylight. On the night, you will need a torch, a bucket of water, eye protection and gloves, a bucket of soft earth to put fireworks in and suitable supports and launchers if you're setting off catherine wheels or rockets
• Leave the lighting of fireworks to responsible adults only

Categories of fireworks

• Category one: ‘Throwdown fireworks’ including firecrackers, bangers and party poppers
• Categories two and three: ‘Adult fireworks’ available in shops
• Category four: Professional display fireworks available from specialist suppliers

Which fireworks can I use at home?

Category information can be found on the label. Category F1, F2 and F3 fireworks are on sale to the general public. Consumer fireworks will fall into either category F2 or F3 depending on how much of a safety distance is required.

Who can use fireworks?

According to The Fireworks Regulations 2004 and The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015:

• Anyone over 18 can buy, carry or use category one, two and three fireworks
• Anyone over 16 can only buy, carry or use category one fireworks
• Anyone over 12 can buy Christmas crackers
• Only licensed professionals can buy, carry and use category 4 fireworks
• Unless part of an organised event by licensed professionals, fireworks cannot be used on the street or in a public place
• It is an offence to throw or set off any firework (including sparklers and category 1 fireworks) in or into any highway, street, thoroughfare or public space

You can fine more information on the GOV.UK (opens in a new window) website.

Get information about firework safety from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents  (opens in a new window) and the Health and Safety Executive  (opens in a new window).

Bonfire Safety

Please consider attending an organised event on Guy Fawkes night rather than having your own bonfire. However, if go ahead with your own bonfire, follow our advice:

• Bonfires should be 18-metres from buildings, sheds, trees, fences, overhead cables and car parking areas
• Only clean dry timber should be burned
• Don't burn aerosols, batteries, bottles, foam-filled furniture, tins of paint or tyres
• Bonfires should be no more than three metres in height. There should be a suitable barrier around the bonfire to keep spectators five metres away
• Don't leave bonfires unattended
• Don't use petrol, paraffin, diesel, white spirit or methylated spirit to light the bonfire - use firelighters instead
• Don't light the fire if it's windy in case burning embers blow away and start fires
• Always check that no children or animals are hiding in the bonfire before lighting it
• Keep some buckets of water nearby in case of emergency and to damp down after the event
• Always extinguish your bonfire once your party has finished
• Bonfires built on council land without permission will be removed
• If you're having a firework display, make sure you light the bonfire afterwards so there's no risk of sparks or heat from the fire setting off the fireworks
• Never put fireworks on the fire