Technical Notes 2026, Issue 162 - Firework and Bonfire Safety
- The purpose of this Technical Note is to advise Elected Members of activity being undertaken by the local community safety partners in relation to firework and bonfire safety across East Dunbartonshire during the firework and bonfire period this year
- Bonfires and firework misuse can have a detrimental effect on community safety and the right of residents to live without fear, anxiety, and disturbance. Bonfires traditionally accompany November 5th celebrations and can be a frequent source of danger due to their size, location or construction, and can also become a focus for anti-social behaviour
- A strategy to minimise the causes and effects of bonfire and firework misuse and the dangers of their related activities, has been developed by East Dunbartonshire Council, working in partnership with Police Scotland, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- A joint protocol has been produced for identifying, reporting, and the disposal of dangerous bonfires, and to combat the misuse of fireworks. This protocol builds on good practice and is designed to assist in the safe legitimate enjoyment around bonfires and fireworks. It ensures consistency in approach, which increases public safety and confidence within East Dunbartonshire
- The aims of the Community Safety Partnership in respect of firework and bonfire safety is to maximise public safety and minimise disorder, to reduce the instances of bonfires being in unsafe or dangerous locations where there is the possibility of injury to persons or damage to property, and to minimise the effect of reckless and indiscriminate use of fireworks and where possible to identify those involved in this type of activity
- To achieve the aims of the partners outlined above, officers are presently engaged in programmes of work activity to:
- Identify locations where unauthorised bonfires are being or have been constructed or where materials for bonfires are being gathered and stored and remove and dispose of them
- Identify any persons responsible for / involved in the illegal possession and use of fireworks, taking appropriate action in all cases where able to do so
- Deliver compliance and inspection visits to all licensed fireworks retailers in the area
- Deliver programmes of activity to educate local schoolchildren in relation to the dangers of and misuse of fireworks
- Deliver joint patrols across the local area, with focus on any identified hotspot areas, to deliver the core elements of the fireworks / bonfire protocol and associated bonfire removal flowchart and to make our local communities safer
- Deliver suitable communications activity with messaging in relation to all aspects of bonfire and firework safety, with particular emphasis being placed upon impacts for the more vulnerable members of the local community
- Collate and examine any information and intelligence in relation to bonfire and firework safety matters across the 2026 bonfire / fireworks season
- Further information in relation to programmes of work and activity being delivered by the local partners in relation to bonfire and firework safety can be obtained in the first instance from Clive Lewis, Community Protection Manager (clive.lewis@eastdunbarton.gov.uk).