Watch your safety this Guy Fawkes

With Guy Fawkes tomorrow, the New Zealand Fire Service is urging those lighting fireworks to stay safe.

Due to more unnecessary fires and injuries than usual over the Guy Fawkes period, the Fire Service is urging people to take care with fireworks and follow these safety tips:

- Read instructions with torchlight, not a naked flame

- Light fireworks in a wide open area

- Never let a child light fireworks

- Keep a bucket of water or a hose handy

- Keep unlit fireworks in a bag until you are ready to use them

- If the firework doesn’t go, dispose of it safely and don’t try to relight it

- Burns should be put under cold running water for 20 minutes

- Consider your neighbours as fireworks are noisy

- Keep your pets inside when letting off fireworks

- Remember to point fireworks at the stars, not at other people.

The Auckland City Council and New Zealand police are also putting in place a fireworks ban in public spaces.

Community services committee chairman Paul Goldsmith says the ban is in the interests of safety.

“While we don’t want to stop people celebrating, we have a responsibility to prevent injuries. Too many people in a small space combined with fireworks and alcohol creates a dangerous combination and is difficult to manage safely.” 

The ban applies until Friday and includes many parks around Mission Bay, Orakei and St Heliers.

Some of the city’s volcanic cones will be closed to vehicles at the earlier time of 6pm between Thursday and Saturday.

Parks affected are Mt Eden, Mt Albert, One Tree Hill and Mt Roskill.

The ban will not prevent people using fireworks on private property.

- © Fairfax NZ News