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As the UK prepares for a fun and safe Bonfire Night, energy safety experts remind people – Bonfires, rockets and powerlines don’t mix!

03 November 2022

As the nation prepares for their Bonfire Night celebrations this weekend, the UK’s energy operators have provided some simple safety tips to ensure bonfires and fireworks don’t damage electrical equipment or powerlines, keeping us all safe this season. Though the Fire Brigade’s safety advice for Bonfire Night should be followed in full, these tips should help you avoid risks that might not be obvious, especially in the dark.

 

  1. Plan ahead: Plan your celebration in advance, preferably in daylight. Take some time to check your surroundings first and make sure you're well away from our overhead power lines and other electrical equipment
  2. Look out, look up: Building bonfires and lighting fireworks anywhere near overhead powerlines can be extremely dangerous so make sure you’re aware of any potential hazards overhead
  3. Keep your distance: Wind can blow flames and sparks onto overhead powerlines so make sure you’re in a safe location to enjoy the celebration. Remember that electricity can also jump gaps so always keep a safe distance

David Spillett, Head of Safety, Health and Environment at Energy Networks Association (ENA) which represents UK energy networks operators said:

“The 5th of November is great fun – but no one wants to turn their bonfire celebration into a blackout. It’s vital we stay safe while we’re enjoying ourselves. Please follow our three tips to help ensure you have a safe night: plan ahead, look out and look up, and keep your distance from overhead powerlines and other electrical equipment.”

If you become aware of any damage to electrical apparatus or believe an item has gone into a substation, then keep well clear and call 105.

Notes to editor

Image by Dave Hostad from Pixabay 

About us

Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.

Press contacts

You can contact ENA's press office by emailing press@energynetworks.org. For urgent or out-of-hours enquiries from journalists, please call 0204 599 7691.