At Cambridgeshire County Council today I asked a question of the Chairman of the Fire Authority about what their plan of action will be for Bonfire Night this year. I asked:
“One of the effects of the current pandemic, and the rules about social gatherings, will be that professional or large community fireworks celebrations and bonfires on 5 November will be prohibited. This may well mean many more smaller family firework events being held in people’s gardens. As one of the reasons for encouraging attendance at larger communal events in previous years is that this is safer than large numbers of enthusiastic amateurs handling fireworks, what plans is the Fire Authority putting in place to (a) advise the Cambridgeshire public in the coming weeks, (b) try to minimise the risk of harm to people and property, and (c) liaise with other blue light services in advance of 5 November?”
The response was that the Fire Authority will be discouraging residents from having their own bonfires or firework displays, but will also be publishing some general safety tips, including buying from licensed vendors and remembering the fireworks safety code.
The RSPCA’s Bang Out Of Order campaign discourages the use of fireworks due to their impact on animals.