Bonfire Night in Lowestoft - Building a Safe Bonfire

20th October 2011

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Bonfire Night in Lowestoft should be a time to enjoy a great bonfire, watch the fireworks and have fun with family and friends. But remember that safety should be paramount. So read our tips for building and having a safe bonfire in Lowestoft.

Building a bonfire

Fire can spread easily, so where and how you build your bonfire is important. If you have a bonfire, follow these simple guidelines:

warn your neighbours beforehand - they are much less likely to complain
light the bonfire at a time least likely to affect your neighbours
only burn dry material not damp, which causes more smoke
build the bonfire away from sheds, fences and trees
check there are no cables - like telephone wires - above the bonfire
don't use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going – it may get out of control quickly

Check out this videos on YouTube for how NOT to light a bonfire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqhUvtZpKN0

And, wearing my other hat as an On Call Firefighter, please don't do anything daft like you'll witness in the video. I'd love to meet you but perhaps not when your shed, fence or house is on fire!

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
don't burn aerosols, tyres, canisters or anything containing foam or paint - many produce toxic fumes and some containers may explode, causing injury

Once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water to stop it reigniting.

But above all, have a safe and enjoyable bonfire night in Lowestoft