Warning over use of fireworks

31 October 2012

Jersey Coastguard is asking the public to help avoid false alarms when launching fireworks from beaches around the Island in the run up to Bonfire Night.

There have been a number of recent sightings of flares which have led to the St Helier Lifeboat being launched to investigate, one in the early hours of last Sunday morning. A search identified that the alert had been caused by a small group firing rocket fireworks out to sea from the beach at Havre de Pas without letting anyone know.

The message from Coastguard is:

1. if you are planning a bonfire – inform the Fire & Rescue Service
2. if you are planning a firework display on the beach – inform the Coastguard
3. do not consider using marine flares to enhance your firework display
4. if you have out of date flares dispose of them safely with the Police – do not let them off
5. if you have in date flares keep them on your boat in case of a real emergency

Speaking on behalf of Jersey Coastguard, Captain Peter Moore, said "Every flare sighting requires a response and rescue services will deploy until the source is found. We don’t wish to deter members of the public from reporting such sightings but, if the rescue services deploy to a hoax or false alarm with good intent, someone might really be in distress somewhere else and be compromised.  If we have prior knowledge, it helps us work out where a report may be linked to a display."