Firework safety

To stay safe and avoid accidents, we recommend you go to an organised event when celebrating Bonfire Night.

If you want to organise an event you can get further information from the Health and Safety Executive web pages on how to organise a safe public firework display. It is aimed at organisations with no specialist knowledge.

Firework facts

  • If you are under 18 it is a criminal offence to be in possession of fireworks in a public place
  • Firefighters are called out 10 times a day to fight needless rubbish fires, which means they are not available for real emergencies
  • Did you know that on average 900 people a year are injured because of the misuse of fireworks - half of them are children under the age of 16
  • A simple sparkler reaches a temperature of up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, this is over 15 times the boiling point of water
  • Throwing a firework in a public place is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine of up to £5,000
  • 4,800 animals are injured a year and 16 of those die

Bonfire safety

If a bonfire is lit and dangerous please call 999 and ask for the fire service

Bonfire facts:

  • Bonfires can have a huge effect on the environment, people and our surroundings
  • A one tonne bonfire will produce two tonnes of carbon dioxide
  • Smoky bonfires can cause asthma attacks and are harmful to health

To stay safe and avoid accidents, we recommend you attend an organised event when celebrating Bonfire Night.

We need YOUR help to get bonfires removed.

Report a bonfire being built in your area

Call: 08085 834333

Fireworks and pets

The Blue Cross, Britain's pet charity, offers advice and support to pet owners whose animals are terrified by the bangs and flashes caused by fireworks.

Firework nuisance

You must not throw or set off fireworks in any public place.

In addition, you must not set them off between 11pm and 7am. The only exceptions to this are on Bonfire Night (5 November), New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. For Bonfire Night the curfew is extended to midnight and for New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year the cut off is 1am.

Report a firework nuisance to West Midlands Police