Holyrood Park will be closed to vehicle traffic on Bonfire Night – Saturday 5th November – from 6pm until Midnight. Throughout the evening Historic Environment Scotland, who manage the Park, will have the Park’s Ranger Team carrying out shared patrols with Police Scotland and the Fire and Rescue Service. Continue reading No vehicles in Holyrood Park on Bonfire Night
Tag: bonfires
Fireworks reminder: avoid putting lives at risk
A senior fire officer has said that lighting fireworks inside buildings is “mindless,” and puts lives at risk. Fortunately no-one was hurt in the Dundee incident, but The Scottish Fire and Rescue service is urging the public to act responsibly this fireworks season. Continue reading Fireworks reminder: avoid putting lives at risk
Madness: fire crews attacked while protecting communities
Wet weather plays a part in ‘quieter than usual’ 5 November
People who chose to attend organized Bonfire Night events helped to protect their communities by ensuring firefighters were able to quickly get to real emergencies on Guy Fawkes Night. No major incidents were reported in Edinburgh, but sadly crews in Larbert, Govanhill and New Cumnock were threatened and attacked while trying to keep the public safe. Continue reading Madness: fire crews attacked while protecting communities
Keeping pets safe at fireworks time
Help protect your community from bonfire tragedy
Choosing to attend only organised displays is the best way to keep yourself, your family and your community safe. Continue reading Help protect your community from bonfire tragedy
Scottish SPCA issues fireworks warning
‘The bang from a firework is terrifying to an animal and some will panic and flee at the sound, which can result in road traffic accidents’ – Chief Supt. Mike Flynn, Scottish SPCA Continue reading Scottish SPCA issues fireworks warning
Remember, remember this Guy Fawkes safety advice
Bonfire Safety Tips
Advice from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is to attend a safely organised bonfire and firework display. However if you must have a bonfire at home make sure it is well away from buildings, vehicles, trees, hedges, fences, power lines, telecommunications equipment and sheds – and you must ensure that smoke does not cause a nuisance to neighbours or flying embers endanger neighbouring property.
- Never drink alcohol if you are tending a bonfire or setting off fireworks – remember it is an offence to consume alcohol in a public place.
- To reduce the emission of harmful smoke and combustion products bonfires should comprise of untreated wood and paper based materials only.
- There is a danger of explosion from pressurised containers or sealed vessels amongst bonfire material or irresponsibly thrown on burning bonfires.
- Never throw fireworks on bonfires.
- Never use flammable liquids to ignite bonfires – use proprietary fire lighters.
- Smoke from bonfires must not pose a public nuisance, affect visibility on roads or otherwise inconvenience vehicles.
- Sparks, flying embers or burning debris must not endanger nearby property.
- Never leave a burning/smouldering bonfire unsupervised – make sure it is completely extinguished.
Any bonfire failing to satisfy safety conditions or where people are behaving irresponsibly may be deemed dangerous and as such, subject to being either removed, extinguished or otherwise made safe.
Bonfires and the Law
It is an offence under Section 56 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for any person to lay or light a fire in a public place so as to endanger any other person or give them reasonable cause for alarm or annoyance or so as to endanger any property.
If you know anything about fires that have been started deliberately in your area, you can call the Crimestoppers Scotland hotline on 0800 555 111. All calls are completely anonymous and do not require names or personal details and you will not be asked to give evidence in court.
Fly tipping during the Bonfire and Fireworks season is a major cause of fire and it is also a criminal offence. If you see fly tipping or know of an area where there is a build-up of refuse or combustible material, contact your local authority cleansing or environmental department to arrange uplift.
You can also contact the Dumb Dumpers Stop Line on 0845 2 30 40 90 or visit www.dumbdumpers.org for more information.
Organising a fireworks and bonfire display
If you are organising a display visit ww.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/using.htm for guidance and practical advice.