Bucks Fire Service urges caution over Chinese New Year

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service are urging those celebrating Chinese New Year to stay safe over the festive period.

Whilst the service are wishing those celebrating a safe, happy and successful time, they're also issuing some advice.

Fireworks displays

Karen Lock is the Marketing and Domestic Safety Officer at the service. She says those putting on personal fireworks displays need to take care.

"Don't throw or set fireworks off in the public place. Obviously if you're doing this all in your back garden, you've got to be mindful of others in the community", she said.

People are also being reminded to store fireworks in a cool, dry place, always read the instructions, and make sure to buy them from licensed individuals.

Floating lanterns

As well as the dangers associated with fireworks, the service is also advising people against the use of floating laterns.

The use of lanterns is a tradition going back thousands of years in Chinese history, and is thought to bring about good luck and prosperity to those using them.

But the service says the can pose a risk to "livestock, agriculture, camping activities, thatched properties and hazardous material sites."

Karen adds: "You're basically letting a loose flame which is fuelled up in air balloon, loose into the atmosphere."

According to Karen, the service have had to attend fires caused by lanterns in the past.

Cooking

Finally, more than half the fires attended by the service start in the kitchen, so people are being urged to never leave cooking unattended and ensure there's no loose materials near any open flames.

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