Bonfires
Building a bonfire
Fire can spread easily, so where and how you build your bonfire
is important:
- Build the bonfire away from sheds, fences and trees
- Check there are no cables, like telephone wires, above the
bonfire
- Don't build the bonfire too big and make sure the stack is
stable and won't collapse outwards or to one side
- Use only dry material - damp material will cause more smoke,
which could annoy your neighbours or be harmful to people with
breathing difficulties
- Don't burn aerosols, tyres, canisters or anything containing
foam or paint - many produce toxic fumes and some containers may
explode causing injury
- Remove any rubbish from the area around the bonfire so no one
is tempted to throw something on to the fire
- Check the bonfire before lighting it - piles of garden waste
are sometimes used as a refuge by hibernating wildlife
- Don't use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going - it may get
out of control quickly
Bonfire safety tips
Once the bonfire is lit, make sure you:
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby, in case of
emergencies
- Don't leave the bonfire unattended
- Keep children and pets away from the bonfire
- Don't throw any fireworks into the fire
- Once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water to
stop it reigniting
Bonfires and the law
There aren't any specific laws against having a bonfire, but
there are several laws that deal with the nuisance bonfires can
cause.
When celebrating Bonfire Night, remember to be careful with
bonfires as well as fireworks. Our advice is to attend an organised
bonfire if possible, however if you must have a bonfire at home,
make sure it is well away from your house and any trees, hedges,
fences or sheds.
Private bonfires
- Bonfires should be built at least 18 metres from things such as
buildings, trees and fences
- They should be no more than 3 metres high for private events
and should not be built under overhead cables
- Do not use petrol or any other flammable liquid to start a
bonfire
- Always check inside the bonfire for animals and children who
could be using them as a den
- Think about fire safety and also the pollution bonfires can
create
Organised fireworks and bonfire displays
- Running a display takes a lot of work, so try to share the load
by planning ahead
- Set up a committee whose members can each take responsibility
for a particular task, including one person to be in charge of all
safety arrangements
- Arrange for fire extinguishers, buckets of water, buckets of
sand and metal litter bins to be available on the night
- Check that plenty of electric torches will be available on the
night, with full batteries.
- Publicise the fact that spectators are not allowed to bring
their own fireworks, including sparklers
- Draw up a detailed checklist of tasks and indicate who is to be
responsible for each one.
- Check whether you are adequately insured to cover any
firework-related injuries to those present at the display
- Think about fire safety and also the pollution bonfires can
create
