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BONFIRE Night is a holiday that's grown from remembering Guy Fawkes' contribution to British history to an evening of appreciation for large homemade fires and setting off visually pleasing fireworks. 10 million people buy and use fireworks annually, and it's safe to assume that many are saving them for the 5th of November.

1 of the most appealing parts of the evening is building a bonfire to commemorate the occasion, but this brings dangers from damage to your garden to injuring your family or friends who come into contact with it. Estimates around injuries from bonfires each year, as well as other Bonfire Night related materials, can reach up to 4,000.

Many of these injuries may have come from putting unsafe fuel on your fire, so you can use this helpful guide to stay safe on the night.

Flammable liquids - When you're starting to build your fire, you might be tempted to apply some flammable liquid to get it started and roaring. They can cause the fire to become uncontrollable, not only putting your personal safety at risk but also putting the environment around you in danger. Why not think about using wood wool firelighters around the fire for a perfect light every time.

This is also why you should make sure that when you're adding to the fire, avoiding other highly flammable materials is crucial. Aerosols, oils, and spirits can harm the environment by producing toxic fumes and can even explode.
Varnish and paint – check your wood... Bonfires offer the chance to burn wood that you either haven't been able to recycle from pallets or old furniture that you haven't found any use for. However, before you add it to the pile, it's important to check how the items are coated.

Wood with varnished or painted finishes cannot be burnt, as when it burns, it releases PM 2.5, which are very small particulates, into the air as you stand around breathing in. These particulates can be taken into your lungs and can be incredibly harmful to your health. You should keep yourself updated on new laws marked out by the UK Government, which confirm what happens when the fumes are released.

We recommend sticking to using kiln-dried hardwood logs for your bonfire fuel if possible, as they burn much cleaner than other woods and offer higher output for fewer logs required, and the emissions are much cleaner without smoke. But if you don't have access to kiln-dried, any wood that is dry with minimal amounts of moisture and hasn't been treated with any additional chemicals or paints will still make for a great and safe bonfire. And don't forget if you use proper dried wood, then collect the cold ash after the bonfire and use this as nutritious fertiliser for your garden.
Rubber and plastics - 1 of the benefits of burning wood on a bonfire is the ash produced when it is burned is biodegradable, meaning it isn't harmful to the environment after it's broken down. This is a huge issue when it comes to rubber and plastics, and one of the reasons you should never add them to the roaring fire is that they don't create biodegradable ash.

Similarly, they produce incredibly harmful fumes when burned. Smoke can linger in the air for days after a fire has dwindled, meaning the chemicals linger with it. It should join any other household waste you're disposing of in the appropriate waste disposal centre rather than trying to break it down on the bonfire.
Household and garden waste – get rid of it properly! We understand that a huge bonfire might be a great opportunity to clear out some space in your home and garden by throwing the waste generated by both onto the mound and letting it burn down. This can be anything from leaves collected during autumn garden cleans to old mattresses that aren't fit to sleep on anymore, but none should be burned. Like rubber and plastics, waste should be properly disposed of. Household waste items should be in a wheelie bin for the smaller waste or at a disposal centre for the larger ones.

Some top tips to keep extra safe:-

Bonfire Night can be stressful with the danger of the festivities, so it's important to stay extra vigilant towards what can go wrong. Here are some top tips to keep you and those around you extra safe in the evening.
Never walk away or leave any fire unattended. Once your evening has finished, extinguish appropriately, leaving no leftover embers that can continue to burn or even catch light again.
Keep children, pets, and other animals away from the open flame.
Store fireworks and other flammable objects at a safe distance from the flame to avoid catching.
Have emergency extinguishing tools nearby. This can be a home solution, such as:- buckets of water or a hose to a fire extinguisher.

In an emergency involving fireworks or fire, always dial:- 999 and ask for the Fire Service.