Have a safe and enjoyable time this Bonfire Night. Check-out the firework safety code in this article if you’re setting up any fireworks or sparklers!
1. Consider young children and pets
Let your neighbours know if you are planning your own fireworks display. This can give people a heads up so they can make plans for their pets or young children.
Fireworks can cause animals serious distress which can lead to them injuring themselves or getting lost in an attempt to run from the noise.
11pm is the legal cut off time for setting off fireworks at any time of year apart from designated days. Fireworks can be set off until midnight on Bonfire Night (5 November), and 1am for New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.
It is against the law to let off fireworks after these times.
2. Only trust registered sellers
You can only buy fireworks and sparklers from registered sellers for private use between specific dates.
For bonfire night, fireworks can be bought between 10 October and 10 November.
Buying them from unreputable and unlicenced retailers is illegal. You are also risking the safety of those attending the display as these products are not guaranteed to comply with current safety standards.
3. How to dispose of fireworks and sparklers
Allow fireworks chance to cool before disposing of them. They can then go directly in your general waste bin. It’s best to put used sparklers in a bucket of water before getting rid of them to make sure they aren’t too hot.
Wheelie bins have been a target for anti-social behaviour in recent years. Help prevent fire and anti-social behaviour by bringing your wheelie bin in off the street around Bonfire Night.
4. Follow the firework safety code
• Always keep fireworks in a closed box.
• Take them out one at a time and close the box.
• Never put fireworks in your pocket.
• Avoid setting fireworks off late at night, particularly if it is a school-night.
• Avoid setting off fireworks where livestock are kept close by
• Make sure your pets are safe.
• Carefully follow the instructions on each firework.
• Never go back to a lit firework unless the instructions advise otherwise.
• Never throw fireworks; it is dangerous.
• Light fireworks one at a time, at the end of the fuse, and at arm’s length.
• Light sparklers one at a time and wear suitable gloves, even when lighting them.
• Never give sparklers to a child under the age of 5.
• Never throw spent fireworks on a bonfire.
5. Report antisocial behaviour or noise
If noise from fireworks becomes a regular occurrence from a single property and this affects you at your home, you can report this to the council, regardless of the time of day or night they are used.
Please make a record of the incidents including the specific location where fireworks are being set off from. Where possible, film the fireworks and email pollution@kirklees.gov.uk with your evidence.
Please be aware that setting off fireworks in any public place is a criminal offence unless permission has been given in advance.
It is illegal to set off fireworks in a local park or on open land such as Marsden Moor. Live flames in these locations can cause devastating fires and a significant disturbance and distress to wildlife.
Celebrating safely
Let’s all have a happy and safe bonfire night.