Late October and early November can be incredibly busy times for retail and leisure businesses. The run up to Christmas encourages consumers to flood into shops as presents and food items are purchased, while Halloween and Bonfire Night provide a boost for third quarter revenues.
Tonight the skies will be illuminated by brilliant bursts of fireworks and bonfires will be lit up and down the country. Supermarkets and smaller retailers have prepared for the evening by stocking up on fireworks and sparklers, while the fire service is issuing safety advice for people looking to put on their own displays.
This year, the UK has a chance to celebrate in style, as the end of the recession was formally announced only a few weeks ago, ending four years of economic uncertainty and households keeping a tight rein on their budgets. As a result, this November 5th is set to be one of the best in the past several years.
However, Bonfire Night can be a somewhat dangerous date, so preparing for an onslaught of pyrotechnic displays is always advisable.
The emergency services will be on alert in all British towns and cities to protect people and properties, and a large part of this job will be putting an end to any unauthorised bonfire parties. These can be very dangerous, as many of these fires will have potentially damaging materials on them which can react unpredictably when exposed to extreme heat, such as plastics or treated wood. Additionally, many unauthorised bonfires are started using petrol – this can lead to severe injury and damage to property as the fire becomes out of control.
Bonfire Night is one of the busiest nights of the year for firefighters, and most councils put extra teams on duty to improve the response time when emergency calls are made. Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service is only one of the many teams around the country already preparing for a difficult night.
Community Safety Manager Steve Harkins says; “We want people to enjoy themselves safely this year. We recommend attending an organised Bonfire Night display to reduce the risk of accidental injury from fireworks.
“Be aware that bonfires must be supervised by an adult at all times. If they are not we will extinguish them. We will also put out any bonfires we believe may pose a risk to people or nearby buildings.
“Lastly we ask that people respect firefighters as they respond to these calls. We are there to keep communities safe from fire so please let us do our job safe from interference or harm.”
Do you take any steps to protect your commercial property on Bonfire Night? How do you think business owners could improve fire safety on their premises on November 5th?
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