Stay safe this Bonfire Night
In the run up to Bonfire Night, people across Sheffield are being encouraged to have fun safely and also provide information that could reduce the risk of illegal fires.
The advice is being issued as part of a campaign by the Sheffield Safer Communities Partnership – a partnership made up of agencies that help to keep Sheffield safe, including South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, South Yorkshire Police, Sheffield Homes and Sheffield City Council.
Leaflets and posters in community areas have been distributed by Safer Neighbourhood Teams across the city, in a bid to get the vital safety advice across. The tips remind people to:
- attend public bonfires and firework displays, rather than hold their own event at home
- never light a bonfire close to sheds or fences
- light sparklers one at a time wearing gloves, and never give to children under five
- only buy fireworks marked BS 7114
- keep fireworks in a closed, metal box and never put them in pockets or throw them
- follow the instructions on each firework and never go back to one that has been lit
- never drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
- keep pets indoors
- call 999 in an emergency
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is also urging people to help them reduce deliberate fires by storing wheelie bins in a secure place and only bringing them out on the day of collection. Some residents have been reminded of the importance of this via new stickers, which waste management company, Veolia, has attached to wheelie-bins.
In addition, people are being urged not to give wood or rubbish to children for bonfires, as these fires are usually illegal, dangerous and tie up valuable fire service resources.
Anyone who sees someone acting suspiciously, preparing an illegal bonfire or behaving antisocially in any way should call Sheffield’s non-emergency number, 101. Special multi-agency teams will then do everything possible to remove the problem before it starts.
Group Manager Richard Chandler from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue explained: “For a small minority of people, overflowing wheelie bins and piles of rubbish can seem like ready-made bonfires, which means they are 999 calls waiting to happen. This is an issue affecting towns and cities across the country throughout the year, but at this time of year we also have to respond to bonfires that have got out of control and firework-related incidents too. That is why all agencies are working together to try to stop problems before they occur, by clearing away rubbish or engaging with those responsible.”