Fire brigade "highly vigilant" as bonfires commence

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service will be on "high alert" this week as bonfire night takes place on Wednesday, November 5.

The fire brigade have already been to multiple incidents this week since Halloween and are waiting expectedly until the end of the upcoming weekend.

Group Manager of the service, Greg Izon says that there are many ways people can stay safe during firework displays.

He said: "We want people to enjoy themselves safely. We want people to celebrate fireworks and fireworks tonight. But we want to celebrate it safely.

"So we have a number of different messages for people, particularly insofar as this week. We know that the, the plan big displays are at the weekends.

"The fireworks site falls in the middle of the week, so there'll be a number of people having home displays.

"We'd always recommend to people to go to professional displays. They are obviously undergoing risk assessments and professional measures and safety standards in place, but we also know that with people doing firework displays at home or having firework displays at home or with family."

They also recommend that anyone lighting a firework should be at an arm's length away when doing so.

The service says that if a firework does not go off, do not try to relight it and leave it until the next morning.

Mr Izon continued: "Please only burn wood, but make sure again that it's safe away from property, away from houses, away from hedgerows, away from fences.

"We do go to a number of fires that have started from a bonfire - accidentally. The best intentions in the world of having a bonfire, you know, and it just gets out of hand. So keep them away from properties and anything like to catch fire that isn't.

"On the bonfire, have a bucket of water to hand as well, or a hose pipe. Some means of trying to just contain the fire, and as always, you know we're always available 24/7, so if these things do happen then I'll call us on 999 and we will attend.