In Britain, the time of the year has come... On the run up to the 5th November, every year, fireworks start to appear in the shops - for people to celebrate "Bonfire Night" on the 5th November. This is when many people, and towns - have a large bonfire and a firework display, to celebrate the failure of the gunpowder plot in which Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, on the evening of the 5th November 1605.
The night is closely associated with the rhyme "Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder Treason and Plot, I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot." The day isn't an official holiday - and you will not get time off work to celebrate 'bonfire night' - but many people now go to see the firework displays, or host their own displays, simply for enetertainment.
In Brigg, shops have now been selling fireworks for a few weeks - and even though, traditionally, people do not start their firework display or bonfires until the night of the 5th of November...Youths and teenagers have been unable to wait, and every night for the past few weeks has seen fireworks been let off. The unfortunate thing is...youths and teenagers have been causing trouble with the fireworks, by launching them at peoples property, for example, houses and cars. A few years ago, there was an incident in Brigg, where a lit firework was put through somebodys letterbox...and thankfully, nobody was killed. Lots of debate has been taking place across the country, with people wanting fireworks to not go on sale until just a few days before, and only to be sold to mature over 18's. People don't realise that a firework can also be called a 'bomb' or a 'missile' depending on how it is abused - however, to sum it all up, it is categoriesed as explosives. In previous years, people have had their homes, their cars - and even themselves set on fire - by careless teenagers with fireworks, who are only interested in "blowing things up". I once witnessed dustbins on the Sir John Nelthorpe School site being blown up by fireworks...and, anybody who witnesses any such crime, danger or hazard caused by youths, are asked to phone the police immaediately.
Everybody is advised to take extreme care and precaution during the months of Bonfire Night - and to make sure that they are not posing any risk to nearby property, and most importantly, themselves and others.
Safety information can be found by clicking on the below links...
Safety Precautions for fireworks and bonfires from Fireworks.co.uk
Bonfire Safety Advice from FireService.co.uk
The above web links will open up in a new window.
To Conclude... Stay safe during the bonfire night period - and take care.
By James Martin
Dated: Thursday 26th October 2006
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