Safety plea as fireworks go on sale in build-up to Guy Fawkes

A fire in Pegasus Bay, Canterbury, which started from children playing with fireworks in 2022. Fireworks are on sale again and emergency services urge caution to avoid a repeat of situations such as this. Photo / Hamish Clark

Fire and Emergency is encouraging people to think about the risk fireworks pose before buying them.

With the public sale of fireworks starting this weekend, fire brigades around the country are preparing for a busy few days.

Fire and Emergency community education manager Tom Ronaldson said fireworks cause unwanted fires and the toll these blazes can take is significant.

“Since 2019 we have seen 676 fires caused by fireworks, 513 of which were vegetation fires,” Ronaldson said.

“One fire caused by fireworks is too many. It is a preventable fire we have to attend. It is also a totally unnecessary fire that may take our crews away from another emergency.

“We’d rather people didn’t buy fireworks but if people are going to purchase fireworks, then before lighting them they should always check it is safe to do so by visiting www.checkitsalright.nz, clicking on fireworks and then checking it’s all right to light. If it is windy and dry in your area, don’t light them.”

Many parts of the country are drier than normal for this time of year, meaning fire risks are already heightened.

If it is safe to light, people can take some simple precautions to keep everyone safe. This starts with checking local bylaws for the rules around using fireworks in your area.

Once that is complete, people should make sure they have a safe set-up when lighting fireworks. This means:

• Lighting them in a wide-open space, away from anything that could catch fire
• Having a large bucket of water or hose at hand.
• Ensuring your fireworks are pointed at the sky and won’t end up in anything that can catch fire, including buildings or vegetation.
• Being a good neighbour. Letting people know around you if you’re planning to set fireworks off, especially those with pets and livestock.
• Disposing of your fireworks safely – soak them in water before you throw them out.

“We know people stockpile fireworks for summer, then let them off over the new year when it can be drier and hotter and there is greater risk of causing a wildfire,” Ronaldson said.

“It is also dangerous to stockpile fireworks at home. The most obvious danger is fireworks accelerating the speed of a house fire, giving people less time to escape. It also offers the potential to injure firefighters who are not expecting that hazard in a house fire.

“Aside from this, there is also the risk the packaging, being cardboard, absorbs moisture and can soften and then not contain the firework correctly. This means that it may behave erratically and dangerously when lit.”