Teesside schoolchildren learn about bonfire night safety

Schoolchildren in Teesside are learning about how to stay safe as we approach bonfire night.

Cleveland Fire Brigade are holding assemblies to teach kids what the risks can be - as they say young people tend to get injured.

Dave Bell, team lead for fire education, said: "We believe that fire education should begin at a very young age, so we try to get into primary and secondary schools. At this time of the year, we're really targeting the lead-up to bonfire night, so we talk about bonfire safety and firework safety as well.

"We feel it's really important as each year unfortunately young people will be injured around bonfire night whether it's with bonfires or fireworks, so we try to get across the key messages that young people shouldn't touch fireworks, they shouldn't go near bonfires, and they should leave the fireworks and the bonfires to the adults.

"I use a few fake fireworks and talk to the young people about not touching fireworks, leaving them alone, whether they think the fireworks have already gone off, or they haven't gone off, don't touch the fireworks, leave it to the adults.

"When bonfires are lit, if they're at a bonfire party, stay well back, don't play near the bonfires and leave the bonfires to the adults and definitely don't throw anything on bonfires.

"Enjoy bonfire night, enjoy the lead-up to bonfire night, but more importantly, we want you to stay safe, so don't mess around with fireworks, they're not toys so don't play around with them."

Safety messages for children

Sparklers should not be given to under 5s.

This is from the Child Accident Prevention Trust:

• Fireworks are exciting, but they can be very dangerous and can hurt you. Listen to your grown-up about where is a safe place to stand.

• Never touch a firework. Don’t pick up a firework after it has been used.

• Wear your gloves when you hold your sparkler and keep it away from your body.

• It’s not a good idea to hold more than one sparkler at once.

• Keep your sparkly sparkler safely away from other people and don’t run around with it.

• Don’t throw your sparkler in case it hits someone.

• Once your sparkler is finished, put it into a bucket of water, don’t pick it back up. It stays hot for a long time and can burn you.

• Leave your dressing up clothes at home on fireworks night, wrap up warm instead.

• Stand well away from the bonfire and stay close to the grown-ups.

• Don’t be tempted to throw things into the bonfire or poke at it with sticks.

• If you’re going to a firework display, hold hands with your grown-up and stay with them all the time.

• If you catch your clothes on a flame, don’t panic – STOP, DROP and ROLL:

STOP what you are doing.

DROP to the ground and cover your face with your hands.

ROLL over and over to put out the flames.

• Practice your STOP, DROP and ROLL before your fireworks celebrations.

Reducing the intense pressure on emergency services

With Bonfire Night fast approaching, Cleveland Fire Brigade is urging the public to help reduce the intense pressure on emergency services by attending organised firework displays instead of holding private events at home.

They are also reminding residents to bring in their wheelie bins as soon as possible after collection. Wheelie bin fires are often started deliberately, and they can quickly spread, putting people, property, and lives at risk.

Lee Brown, Assistant Director of Prevention, Protection and Planning said: “Each year, this period sees a sharp rise in emergency incidents, many of which are entirely avoidable. Between 13th October and 10th November 2024 alone, there were 572 deliberate fires recorded across the Brigade area.

"Unattended bonfires, private firework parties, and illegal fly-tipping are among the leading causes of these fires. Not only do they pose a serious risk to lives and property, but they also place a significant and avoidable strain on already stretched fire crews during one of the busiest times of the year.

“Fly-tipped rubbish, overflowing bins, and bonfires built in unsafe locations can all act as fuel for deliberate fires, which spread quickly and are harder to control. These fires tie up critical resources and can put homes and lives at risk.”

“One of the simplest and most effective ways the public can help is by knowing their bin day and storing waste securely. Keeping rubbish away from homes, fences, and outbuildings makes it far less likely to be used as fuel for a deliberate fire, something many people don’t realise is a major contributor to the surge in incidents around Bonfire Night. Deliberate bin fires cause a significant strain on fire services and preventing them is a quick and easy win that can make a real difference.”

To support community safety and minimise incidents, they are asking members of the public to:

- Attend an organised display – These events are professionally managed, far safer, and reduce the number of firework-related callouts received.

- Avoid private firework parties – Private firework displays can easily lead to injuries and small fires, especially when setup is unsafe or handled without experience, adding unnecessary strain on emergency services.

• Don’t fly-tip or let rubbish pile up – Waste can be used in an arson attack and can fuel accidental fires.

- Know your bin day and store waste securely – Keeping rubbish away from homes, fences, and outbuildings helps prevent it from becoming fuel for a fire.

• Report unsafe fires or anti-social behaviour – Early reporting allows them to respond before incidents escalate, protecting communities and reducing fire service demand.