With just days until Guy Fawkes night in New Zealand, Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) is urging people to think about the risk fireworks pose before buying them.
And the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) is joining a petition calling for the public sale of fireworks to be banned.
The legal sale of fireworks gets under way around the country this weekend and fire brigades are preparing for a busy time of year with Guy Fawkes being staged on November 5.
FENZ community education manager Tom Ronaldson says fireworks cause unwanted fires and the toll these fires can take is significant.
“Since 2019 we’ve seen 676 fires caused by fireworks, 513 of which were vegetation fires,” Ronaldson says.
“One fire caused by fireworks is too many. It’s a preventable fire we have to attend.
“It’s also a totally unnecessary fire that may take our crews away from another emergency.
“We’d rather people didn’t buy fireworks but if people are going to purchase fireworks, then before lighting them they should always check it is safe to do so by going online to www.checkitsalright.nz, clicking on ‘fireworks’ and then checking it’s alright to light.
“If it is windy and dry in your area, don’t light them.”
Ronaldson says many parts of the country are drier than normal for this time of year, meaning the fire risks are already heightened.
If it is safe to light, people can take simple precautions to keep everyone safe.
This starts with checking for local bylaws for the rules around using fireworks in the area.
Once that’s complete, people should make sure they have a safe set up when lighting fireworks. This means:
- Lighting them in a wide-open space, away from anything that could catch fire
- Having a large bucket of water or hose at hand.
- Ensuring your fireworks are pointed at the sky and won’t end up in anything that can catch fire including buildings or vegetation.
- Being a good neighbour. Letting people know around you if you’re planning to set fireworks off, especially those with pets and livestock.
- Disposing of your fireworks safely – soak them in water before you throw them out.
Meanwhile, the NZVA is joining a petition calling to ban public firework sales and working to raise awareness of the risk fireworks displays can pose to animals.
“Every year, veterinarians are called to see horses that have been badly injured by panicking and running through fences, attempting to jump out of paddocks, or have run on to roads, endangering themselves and motorists,” the association says.
“Cats and dogs often get anxious and try to flee when fireworks are going off. As a result many each year are injured.
“Large animals in general suffer from fear and stress related to fireworks and the impact of fireworks on wildlife is also a recognised issue.
“With these concerns in mind, the NZVA is proud to support a petition by Animates Vetcare NZ calling on Parliament to ban the sale of fireworks to the New Zealand public.”
So far, more than 20,225 pet owners have signed the petition with 19,350 pets adding their paw prints.
NZVA head of veterinary services (companion animals) Sally Cory says small animals, particularly cats and dogs, have much more sensitive hearing than humans and will often try to flee during fireworks, resulting in an increased risk of injury and trauma.
“Around the time of Guy Fawkes, veterinarians tend to see cats that develop stress cystitis in response to the noise, which is a painful and distressing condition, usually requiring prompt veterinary intervention,” she says.
“We also see direct injuries from fireworks, anxiety issues, and stress can exacerbate heart or respiratory issues for pets with pre-existing conditions.”
Cory advises pet owners to ensure companion animals are microchipped, registered, and kept safely indoors during fireworks displays.
“It’s important owners are well prepared and pets have a safe place to hide that’s away from loud noises and flashing lights.
“It’s obviously difficult to plan for the unexpected, but for some pets with noise phobias and anxiety, owners could consider using calming medications.
“These need to be administered prior to the event under your vet’s advice.”
Here’s the NZVA’s tips to ensure a safe celebration for all:
Companion animals
- Make sure your pets have a secure place to hide during fireworks
- Stay calm as our pets pick up on our anxiety
- To block noise, you may like to provide calming music or a white noise machine
- Keep pets indoors and ensure doors and gates are closed and secure
- Use calming aids, such as pheromone diffusers
- If you need to take your pet outside to use the toilet, keep them on a secure leash to prevent sudden dashes if there are loud bangs.
Large animals
- Move animals to a safe paddock, stable, or area away from fireworks and take other protective measures as needed
- Make sure your fences and gates are secure
- Check on animals regularly if there are fireworks going off near you
- Keep your vet’s contact details on hand in case any of your animals are hurt or injured
- Be careful when settling frightened animals, as they may react in uncharacteristic ways when distressed and can become dangerous
- If your animals are likely to be distressed, ask your neighbours to consider adjusting the timing, location, or type of fireworks.
To sign the petition calling for a ban on the public sale of fireworks go online to pawprintpetition.co.nz
