Fire Service boss urges sensible use of fireworks

New Zealanders could watch more than 500 tonnes of fireworks go up in smoke over the next week during the annual Guy Fawkes Day sparkfest.

But the Fire Service hopes that is all that disappears, with fireworks-related calls having dropped by almost 60 per cent over the last decade, and fireworks imports dropping last year to less than half the total imported in 2013.

There were 268 fireworks-related calls nationally last year, which compared with 653 in 2006.

The Fire Service Hawke's Bay area, from Nuhaka to Eketahuna had 11 fireworks-related calls last November, five on Guy Fawke's Day.

Some of the incidents - where fires had ignited houses, garages, trees, rubbish and almost a block of shops - could have ended a lot more seriously, said Fire Service national risk reduction manager Rob Saunders.

Hawke's Bay Fire Service area commander Chris Nicoll said he was aware of just two displays for which authority had been sought, tonight at Anderson Park, Havelock North, and next Saturday at Meeanee Speedway.

Specific authority was needed for most larger events and were unlikely to be permitted in rural areas.

In between times, fireworks are on sale to the public for just four days next week from Monday until Guy Fawkes Day on Thursday.

Figures provided by the Environmental Protection Authority yesterday show fluctuation in fireworks imports, with a peak of 1682 tonnes in 2005, a low of 550 tonnes in 2009, an increase to just over 1500 tonnes in 2013 and a drop to just under 722 tonnes last year.

Mr Nicoll said with the storage and use of fireworks "commonsense is the first step".

Users should make sure fireworks "aren't all stored in one box" and that hoses are at the ready in case of any potential mishaps, he added.

Fireworks sales have been limited by law to four days up to Guy Fawkes Day since 2007, and they cannot be sold to people aged under 18 years.

Specially approved conditions are needed for the holding of over a tonne of fireworks, which impacts on the quantities able to be held by retailers, and the placing of fireworks on sale to the public can only be done with the fireworks in approved retail packages.