The explosive 2005 Firework thread

[Maurice]

There are some lethal firewirks available to the public these days and there are shops open virtually all year round selling them.


This year we will be having 3 big events around the same time i.e.

Guy Fawkes night Nov 5th
Eid (end of Ramadan) around about the same time plus
Diwali - Hindi festival of light again, around the same time.
time for a trip abroad methinks!

[Caspar]

I heard some fireworks t'uther day....and then remebered that we're coming to Fireworks night etc!

My dog is usually ok with load bangs...bought him a noisy sounds CD when he was younf (now 19 months).

My 8 month daughter will have a shock when we gander upto the local park at watch the fireworks...I betcha see cries we come home early! ...bless her!

[Martin]

My doggy used to be okay with Fireworks but they're just so loud now she just runs round barking at the ceiling!!

Our dog goes mad when he hears fireworks, its umbeleivable. Then when we open the door he sits there watching them in the garden.....not a peep outa him.

Might buy some this year, although I could stand in the back garden and watch Stocktons free display, but it was utter hoof last year.

[Pia]

Originally Posted by timewarrior2001

Our dog goes mad when he hears fireworks, its umbeleivable. Then when we open the door he sits there watching them in the garden.....not a peep outa him.

Might buy some this year, although I could stand in the back garden and watch Stocktons free display, but it was utter hoof last year.

Come to Darlington, always full of A-list celebs at our display.

I think one year we even had the cheeky girls.LOL

[Matthew]

They have already started this year around here, had several lots go up without fail on a Friday night for about the past 3 or 4 weeks. Just had wheelie bins brought into us this year so we will see how many are melted soon. Personally I think they should only be sold to proper displays.

For more information on firework safety check this out. Also here and here.

[Pia]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Personally I think they should only be sold to proper displays.

I agree with that 100%

[Flubflow]

I have to say that it is a LOT quieter round here since the new legislation came in.
It is almost bearable, relatively speaking of course, but I will reserve judgement until the weeks after Nov 5th.

If any of you really must buy fireworks for your own use then please visit the DTI website and readup. I don't care how old you are and how much you think you know it all, it does not harm to have a refresher in safety and the law.
Main site:- http://www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks/
Download Link to the "fireworks toolkit" PDF:- http://www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks/download/toolkit.pdf

Here are some main points ...

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to posess fireworks in a public place.
It is illegal to sell fireworks to anyone under 18 (including sparklers).
It is illegal to sell caps, partypoppers etc to anyone under 16.
It is illegal to sell bangers, air bombs and mini-rockets.
It is illegal for retailers to split packs of fireworks to sell individually.
It is illegal to sell from a place not licensed or registered with the local. authority and fire service (selling from vans is illegal).
Don't give sparklers to under 5s.
It is illegal to set off fireworks in a public place (meaning any place you do not own/rent or have express permission to use).
Never use illegally imported fireworks (legal fireworks are labeled with the BS7114 standard).
It is illegal to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am except in the following circumstances....
Nov 5th ** UNTIL MIDNIGHT**
New Years Eve **1am the following day**
Chinese New Year (Jan 29th 2006) **1am the following day**
Diwali (from Tues Nov 1st 2005 for 5 days) **1am the following day**


If you are having a big firework party with booze then refrain from letting drunk idiots handle any fireworks.

Most firework injuries are eyes, face and hands. Please don't become another tragic statistic. Please download and read the DTI firework info.

Consider giving the money you would normally spend on fireworks to charity.

Goodnight (I say as several whistles and bangs just went off outside about 8 minutes ago at 1:10am).

[Anonymouse]

What annoys me about the whole thing is that most likely very few members of the current generation even know who Guy Fawkes was, or why Nov. 5th is the particular date for Bonfire Night. If they don't even know what they're supposed to be celebrating, why bother?

While I was at grammar school, I recall reading accounts of what - allegedly - happened on 05/11/1605; there is some doubt as to whether there was in fact a plot at all. Guy Fawkes may have been the biggest fall guy of all time.

Either that, or the only person ever to enter Parliament with honest intent.

I also can't help wondering about all those alkali metals, useful in industry and getting scarcer all the time, effectively going to waste. If the resulting oxides were somehow recoverable, I'd be more in favour.

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by Pia

I agree with that 100%

Its more fun doing it yourself though...

1. If you only do it on 5th November
2. or New Years
3. You do it safely
4. You take into account all of the rules listed above

[Halcyon]

Indeed it is fun to hold your own party and have fireworks.
You've just got to leave the fireworks to someone who's done it before and respects the safety measures, and you are fine.

[Pia]

Well then maybe fireworks should only be sold to people who are 'qualified' to use them.
Make them sit a safety course or somethnig like that and obtain a certificate to say so.
Sort of like a license i guess.

Of course, it won't happen because it's too much work!

Speaking as someone who was partly responsible for nearly loosing some ones sight whilst 'larking around' with fireworks as a teenager (not something I am proud of btw), I firmly believe that the age limit on sales should be raised to 25.

I only go to organised displays and have had nothing to do with fireworks since that day (other than going to organised events).

[Pia]

I'm not too sure if there's much point in age limits.
Of course it'll stop some kids getting hold of them. But there will always be older people who will buy them for the kids and even the irresponsible aldults themselves...

[sir_drinks_alot]

Read this political correctness gone mad.
Fifth of November is...Compost Night?


why can't thay just sod off.