Organised Firework Displays Taking Place on the Yorkshire Coast

Emergency services and a leading safety charity are urging Yorkshire Coast residents to attend organised fireworks displays rather than hosting potentially dangerous celebrations at home.

The call for caution comes amid concerning national figures showing a sharp rise in firework-related incidents. Safety charity the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is warning of increased risks from home-based celebrations, particularly as an increasing number of organised displays have been cancelled across the UK.

Home Office data indicates that the year 2024/25 saw a 42 per cent increase in firework incidents compared to 2023/24, rising from 185 to 264 incidents. The figures highlight a worrying trend in unsafe firework use. According to RoSPA, fireworks are a leading cause of seasonal fire injuries and property damage in the UK, with human error remaining the primary factor in over 75 per cent of incidents. Most incidents involved ‘other primary fires,’ which include outdoor fires in vehicles, grassland, and bins, often caused by the improper handling or disposal of fireworks.

RoSPA strongly advises families to attend organised displays wherever possible, asserting that they are "far safer than home-based celebrations".

Rebecca Guy, Senior Policy Manager at RoSPA, underscored the severity of the danger posed by domestic firework use. She stated:

“Fireworks are powerful explosives, not toys. Only adults should handle them and never mix alcohol with lighting fireworks. Store them safely in a closed box, light at arm’s length with a taper, and never go back to a lit firework. Always buy CE or UKCA-marked products, aim rockets away from people, and remember sparklers burn at extremely high temperatures — treat them with care”.

The North Yorkshire Fire Service has also urged the public to stay safe this Bonfire Night, reminding residents that fireworks are explosives and must be treated with care. The Service strongly encourages attending organised displays instead of home displays. For those who insist on planning a display at home, the Fire Service stresses that only fireworks carrying the CE mark should be purchased, and they must be kept in a closed box and used one at a time.

Organised events, such as those scheduled across the coast in locations including Scarborough and Bridlington, are being promoted as the safer and more spectacular alternative.

Speaking about the ‘Firework Extravaganza’ taking place at Scarborough Cricket Club, Louise Ingle stated that the venue offers a safe environment for the community celebration. She said:

“We've got our annual fireworks event. We have got lots going on.

It's a bit more of a community feel this year. We've got Mencap coming along, the Rainbow Centre, St. Catherine's. Yeah, it's just going to be a really nice event. We all want to work together. It's about bringing the community together.

We've got a quiet space in the pavilions for people that don't like loud noises, but they can still enjoy the evening. So, there's somewhere for everybody to go.

We want to be able to bring everybody in to the event. It's for everybody really”.

Louise also highlighted the benefits of attending the enclosed, secure venue:

“We have got quite a gem here. We are really lucky for what we've got and it's a safe area. So, it's it's enclosed. It's a nice safe area to have this event.

It's always a good atmosphere. It's lovely. It's something nice to do at the end of the season and just to set it all off really.

It's not something that's over within 5 minutes. It's 15, 20 minutes long. It's a nice event”.

The event at Scarborough Cricket Club gets underway at 5pm on Wednesday November 5th, with the fireworks display at 7:30pm. There will be food stalls and the bar will be open. Entertainment will be provided by Paddy from This is the Coast. Tickets are available in advance at https://scarboroughcricketclub.ktckts.com/event/sccfireworks25/firework-extravaganza-2025 or can be bought on the door.

Other local organised events taking place on Wednesday include the Bonfire Celebrations at Burniston & Cloughton Village Hall. Gates open at 6pm, the Bonfire will be lit at 6:30pm, Fireworks display at 7pm. The organisers say "Entry will be limited on the gate as we have strict limits on numbers for everyone's safety." Tickets can be bought in advance at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bcvillagehall/bonfire-celebrations/e-xokjmd

Bridlington Rugby Club are also hosting a Fireworks Display at Dukes Park. Gates open at 5:30pm with the Fireworks at 7:30pm. Entry is pay on the gate.