RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

November 2, 2006
DRY WEATHER SPARKS BONFIRE WARNING

With good weather forecast for many areas of the country over the weekend, RoSPA is warning people to take extra care with their firework celebrations – particularly when lighting the bonfire.

If the skies are clear, people may be persuaded to organise a party at the last minute and that is when accidents can often happen.

Roger Vincent of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: “Even though the weather may be dry, wood used for bonfires is likely to remain wet. People may be tempted to risk disaster by using petrol, meths or paraffin to get the fire blazing.

“In the past, people have been badly burned and even killed when using accelerants such as these. In some of the worst cases, bonfires have literally exploded because of a build up of fumes. These things should definitely not be used to light bonfires. Keep a store of dry materials to get the fire going instead.”

Finding the correct site for the bonfire is also important so that it will not set fences, hedges, sheds or other buildings alight. Bonfires can give off tremendous heat and there needs to be room for spectators to stand well back. No one near the fire should wear loose clothing. Items such as glass and aerosols should not be thrown into the flames as these can explode.

RoSPA recommends going to a properly organised public display rather than having private firework parties, but realises some people have to have their celebrations at home. They need to plan in advance in order to be safe and be sure they follow the firework code: see www.rospa.com/fireworks .

The number of people injured by fireworks last year fell by about 14 per cent to 990 compared with 1,160 in 2004. Encouragingly, the number of casualties at private parties dropped by nearly 20 per cent to 475, but it is still far too high.

More than half of the total injuries were to people under 18, who should not be getting their hands on fireworks. It is now illegal for under-18s to possess fireworks in the street or other public places. Nearly a quarter of the accidents happened in the street, where fireworks should not be let off.

Rockets were responsible for the highest number of injuries (216) last year, but 104 people were hurt by sparklers, which can burn with the intensity of a blow torch. Sparklers should not be given to children under five and should be lit one at a time.