RESIDENTS are being warned to stay safe this season ahead of Hallowe’en, Bonfire Night and Diwali.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging the community to celebrate these events whilst taking additional precautions.
For Hallowe’en, people are advised to wear flame-resistant costumes and to keep children away from naked flames.
And if the clothes catch fire, the RBFRS team are reminding individuals to stop, drop and roll.
Decorations can burn easily so people should steer clear of attaching them to lights and heaters.
David Grayson, watch based station manager, said: “If you are purchasing a costume for Hallowe’en, ensure that it is labelled as flame-resistant.
“Whatever costume you do choose, keep it away from naked flames at all times and don’t use flammable materials to wear.”
Mr Grayson added that fireworks in the wrong hands could cause “real misery”.
“Please only buy them from licensed manufacturers and remember, fireworks are explosives,” he said.
“Handle fireworks extremely carefully and only use them in accordance with the instructions and the Firework Code.
“And be respectful if you are using fireworks, they can be frightening for people and animals so tell your neighbours if you are planning to let them off and ensure your display is over by the cut off time, which is midnight on Bonfire Night and Diwali.”
Families who plan to have a bonfire should build them away from buildings, fences and trees and never burn aerosols, tryes or canisters.
And the RBFRS crew advised to not use petrol to get the fire going and to keep a bucket of water nearby.
Superintendent Bhupinder Rai, head of local policing for Berkshire, added her views on fireworks on Bonfire Night.
“Legal restrictions prevent anyone from under the age of 18 to purchase them or to possess fireworks in a public place,” she said.
“The consequences of misusing fireworks, or of accidents occurring involving them, can be very serious and even tragic.”
For anyone around flames, fireworks and bonfires should follow three simple steps if they get burnt.
This includes cooling the burn with running tap water and removing any jewellery, calling 999 or 111 for help and covering the burn with cling film or a sterile dressing.
People may decide to let off sky lanterns, so residents should take care as this is a fire hazard to property, crops and the environment.
For more information on celebrating safely this Halloween, Bonfire Night and Diwali, visit the RBFRS Celebrating Safely page.
