Bonfire Night Fire Safety: What Venues and Organisers Need in Place
Bonfire Night on 5 November draws a crowd, and a good community event takes real planning behind the scenes. If you manage a venue or help organise a display, the enjoyable part rests on some solid fire safety groundwork. Get it right and nobody notices. Get it wrong and it can go badly, fast. Here is what should be in place before, during and after the night.
Before the night
Most of the work happens well before the first firework. Start with a written plan for the event and walk the site imagining it full of people in the dark:
- A fire risk assessment for the event, covering the bonfire, any pyrotechnics, catering, and the crowd.
- Set distances: keep the bonfire and firing area well away from buildings, exits, marquees and parking.
- Firefighting equipment to hand, suited to the risks, including for any catering units.
- Clear, lit exits and routes, so a crowd can leave quickly if it needs to.
- Enough trained marshals briefed on their positions and what to do if something goes wrong.
On the night
With the plan set, the night itself is about people sticking to it. Keep the crowd behind the barriers and clear of the firing zone. Keep exits unblocked at all times, even as numbers build. Watch the weather, because wind changes how far sparks and smoke travel. And make sure your marshals stay in position rather than drifting off to watch the display.
If you are running the event, you are responsible for the safety of the people at it. That means assessing the fire risks, putting sensible precautions in place, and making sure people can get out quickly if they need to.
Do not forget indoor venues
Not every Bonfire Night event is outside. Pubs, clubs and halls fill up on the night too, and the same basics apply indoors: exits kept clear, working alarms and extinguishers, and staff who know the evacuation plan. If you are also running heaters and decorations, keep them clear of anything that can catch.
Your Bonfire Night checklist
Have these sorted before 5 November
- Event fire risk assessment written and shared.
- Bonfire and firing area set well back from buildings and exits.
- Right firefighting equipment on site and in date.
- Exits and routes clear, lit and marked.
- Trained marshals briefed and in position.
Your questions answered
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a bonfire event?
Yes. If you are organising an event, you need to assess the fire risks and put precautions in place to keep people safe, including how they would evacuate.
How many marshals do I need?
Enough to manage the crowd, keep exits clear and respond if something goes wrong. The number depends on the size and layout of your event, and they should be briefed beforehand.
What about an indoor Bonfire Night event?
The basics still apply: clear exits, working alarms and extinguishers, and staff who know the evacuation plan, plus care with heaters and decorations.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Fire safety risk assessment: open-air events and venues (gov.uk).
Getting ready for your event?
Beacon Fire Protection supplies and services firefighting equipment and helps Cumbria venues get their fire safety right for events. Get in touch before the night.
Call 01768 863 551