Bonfire safety plea as tonnes of fireworks seized

People in West Yorkshire are being urged to go to organised bonfire events, rather than have firework displays in their own gardens.

The request from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) comes ahead of this year's Bonfire Night celebrations.

Last year on 5 November there were 394 bonfire-related calls to the 999 emergency line, with crews called out to 155 incidents, according to a WYFRS spokesperson.

The service has also asked anyone buying fireworks to ensure they are from a reputable dealer and are legal to purchase, following the seizure of more than 30 tonnes of fireworks in October.

Dale Gardiner, district commander for Kirkleesn and the senior on-call leader for the service in the lead up to 5 November, said events had "the potential to leave people with serious injuries if we don't take precautions".

In order to stay safe, WYFRS recommended the following:

• Never return to a lit firework, throw fireworks or carry them in your pocket
• If choosing to have a bonfire, keep it well away from buildings, garages, fences and flammable materials
• Ensure it is always supervised and have water nearby

Gardiner said if people wanted to let off fireworks at home displays they should follow some simple advice when buying and them.

He said: "Go to a reputable retailer, don't buy 'fake' fireworks.

"Make sure any fireworks that you do buy are sealed in packages and, of course, follow the Firework Code if you are using them."

The 30 tonnes of fireworks seized in Bradford and Halifax were found as the result of a multi-agency operation, according to the WYFRS.

The operation, which also involved the Health and Safety Executive and West Yorkshire Police, is part of ongoing inquiries into the illegal storage of fireworks in the county.

Christopher Kemp, senior fire Protection manager at WYFRS, said: "This is a complex operation involving a number of locations and different regulatory responsibilities.

"Fireworks are explosives and there are strict controls around how and where they can be stored.

"Those controls exist to protect businesses, employees and, importantly, the wider public."

Last week it was announced there would be extra police would be on the county's streets for Halloween and Bonfire Night.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said 5 November was among the busiest time of the years for officers.

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