• If it is a large event, Kirklees Council's Safety Advisory Group by completing the proposal details online at Plan an outdoor event
• The local Police Service
• The local Fire Service, because there are strict rules about the storage and handling of fireworks, you may need a licence. Note: Ensure that you are familiar with and comply with the guidance issued by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
• Nearby residents and local institutions, such as residential homes, hospitals and anybody with livestock

• A safe place to store the fireworks, preferably locked in a closed box, somewhere cool and dry, out of reach from children and animals.
• Special clothing, like bibs and jackets, to identify your team on the night
• Team training in the various tasks for the night, including all emergency drills and exits
• Some form of public address system as a safety measure
• Plenty of battery operated torches, with full batteries
• To publicise the fact that spectators are not allowed to bring their own fireworks, including sparklers
• Fire extinguishers, buckets of water and/or sand and metal litter bins

Make sure:

• The site is well away from buildings, trees and overhead cables etc.
• The site is a safe distance from flammable materials, such as petrol, fuel, oil, and liquefied petroleum gas.
• The area has plenty of entrances and exits, make sure that they are well lit, clearly sign posted and free from obstruction.
• The wind and the fireworks display are angled away from spectators.

As much as possible, the display site is the whole site used for the display, and is made up of:

• Spectator area - from which the public will watch the display
• Safety area - a clear area between the spectators and the firing area to ensure that the spectators are a safe distance away from the fireworks
• Firing area - from which the fireworks are set off
• Fall-out area - An area kept clear of people, where the debris from spent aerial fireworks lands (minimum of 100m x 50m)

Site layout for a display involving aerial fireworks:

Falling fireworks can cause damage, so plan any designated car parking area to be well away and upwind from your display area and fall-out area

• Proper crowd control is essential, arrange for some stewards to be responsible for this, at least one steward for every 250 spectators
• Make sure that the stewards are identifiable, perhaps with fluorescent bibs or jackets
• None of the stewards should be allowed to consume alcohol until the event is over
• Erect a form of barrier to prevent the spectators entering the safety area
• Do not admit spectators to the display with their own fireworks, including sparklers

• Never go back to it, it could still be live, and could go off in your face
• Half an hour is the absolute minimum you should wait before considering approaching it, even then you should avoid positioning any part of the body over a misfired firework
• The firework should then be immersed in a bucket of water
• If you are in any doubt contact the local Fire Service for advice

• The work for your team does not finish when the last firework goes off, because spectators need to be cleared safely from the site.
• Do not allow spectators into the firing, safety and fall-out areas until it is cleared of spent fireworks and any misfires have been dealt with.
• Gather the spent fireworks using an electric torch-light, tongs or other suitable tool, and wear strong gloves.
• Never dispose of fireworks, even those which are fully spent, on a bonfire or by burying. Recommended disposal methods are as follows:
  • Put fully spent fireworks (but not misfired or partly spent fireworks) in metal refuse receptacles.
  • Leave the misfired fireworks immersed in the bucket of water in an area where they cannot be tampered with, contact the local Fire Service for disposal advice.

• Never use any flammable liquids such as paraffin or petrol to light the fire - use paper and solid firelighters in two or three places to ensure an even burn.
• Damp bonfires should be lit by using dry kindling like newspaper, sacking, cardboard, empty wooden boxes etc. These materials should be placed inside the bonfire and will help it to burn from the inside, drying out any damp materials stacked on the outside.
• Do not burn foam-filled furniture, rubber, aerosols, tins of paint, pressurised gas cylinders, tyres etc and do not use materials, such as corrugated cardboard, which produce a light ash and that could blow about.
• Do not light in windy conditions - strong winds can result in embers being carried further - the barrier around the bonfire may need to be moved further back.

• Do not leave the bonfire unattended - it must be fully supervised until it has burnt out and must be damped down before leaving the site.
• There should be adequate firefighting equipment to hand, and stewards should receive adequate training, so that if the bonfire suddenly flares up and causes concern, it can be dampened down quickly with:
  • 2 x 9 litre water fire extinguishers
  • Hose (if mains water supply is available);
  • Buckets of water or sand
  • Fire beaters
  • Fire blanket
• Advise the people looking after the bonfire not to wear lightweight clothing that could ignite relatively easily. They are recommended to wear a substantial outer garment of wool or other low flammability and strong footwear.
• Make sure the designated people know what to do in the event of a burn injury or a person's clothing catching fire. There should also be easy access to a fire blanket

• Immediately cool the burn by running cold water over the burn for 20 minute
• Remove jewellery and loose clothing from near the burn area gently and carefully before the area starts to swell
• Avoid hypothermia by cooling the burn but warm the rest of the casualty
• Cover the cooled burn with a dressing which will not stick, like clingfilm which is ideal or a new unused plastic bag or a clean, smooth cloth (like a pillowcase)
• Monitor for signs of shock: pale & clammy skin, dizziness, and nausea
• Unless the burn is very small, go to a hospital. If the burn is very serious, or the person is (or was) unconscious, dial 999

• Do not remove clothing or anything else which is stuck to the burn
• Never cool the burn using ice
• Never apply creams, ointments, oils or fats
• Do not touch the burn or burst blisters