Tower Hamlets: London’s riskiest fireworks borough

FIREWORKS come out at Hallowe’en, at Diwali and on bonfire night: and in Tower Hamlets, that means a concentrated period of fire-related calls coming through to Fire Service control centres.

A total of 685 emergency calls from Tower Hamlets have been logged since 2010 – the highest number from any single London borough. The Fire Service advises people to go to professional displays, but these are few and far between this year – which may help explain why so many residents are mounting DIY display in the grounds of commuity centres or even private gardens.

What, then, are the dangers? Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Craig Carter explained that it’s not just the actual firework incident that is a danger. “Our priority is to keep London safe, but when people are misuing fireworks, it takes away resources from other emergencies across the capital. He urged parents to talk to their children, adding, “Fireworks are explosives and, as such, should be treated with respect and only used n accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions and the Fireworks Code. If you misuse fireworks, you risk seriously injuring yourself or your loved ones.”

Given the dangers, the sale is more heavily regulated than you might think. Retailers have to have a special licence to sell fireworks around the year – without it, you can only buy them at certain times of year. Buy fireworks that have a CE or UKCA mark. Fireworks are graded in terms of risk: Category 1 fireworks pose the least danger and can be used, carefully, in small spaces. Category 2 and 3 fireworks can be used for a display, but category 4 fireworks cannot be sold to members of the public and can only be bought by professionals, from specialist suppliers.

The use of fireworks is regulated too. All fireworks, including smaller ones such as sparklers, can only be set off betweeen 7am and 11pm. On bonfire night itself, the curfew is extended to midnight. You can – and should – read the safety tips on the Fire Service website.

●To find professional dispays in London, click here:
Map of fireworks displays

●See the Fire Service safety tips:
Firework safety

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