London Fire Brigade has issued an urgent warning about the dangers of misusing fireworks ahead of Halloween, Bonfire Night and Diwali, following a series of fireworks-related incidents in the capital this month.

Over the past four weeks, firefighters have already responded to an average of two fireworks-related incidents per week. This includes:

• Reports of fireworks getting out of control in a public area in Battersea
• Fireworks are lit from the balcony in Stockwell
• Fireworks are being misused in Northolt
• Fireworks are being misused in Penge
• Reports of young people setting off fireworks in Notting Hill
• Fireworks are being misused and causing heavy smoke in a Southwark flat
• Fireworks are being misused in Blackheath

Most importantly, firefighters responded to a fire at a secondary school in Enfield last weekIt is thought to have been caused by a group of young people playing fireworks. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the incident served as a stark warning to Londoners about the dangers of misusing fireworks.

In order to raise awareness, the Brigade published the footage taken about the incident. GoodSam appWe hope this will encourage the public to be careful during the upcoming fireworks season.

A Metropolitan Police Service spokesperson said: “An investigation was recently launched following a fire at a school in Enfield on 23 October. It is understood that the fire was started intentionally as a result of a group of young people throwing fireworks into the building, and our investigations regarding this are continuing.

“We continue to work with partners including the London Fire Brigade, local schools and councils to highlight the dangers of fireworks at this time.

“Officers will continue to patrol on Halloween and Fireworks nights to respond to reports of anti-social behaviour.”

Deputy Commissioner for Prevention and Protection Craig Carter said: “It is really worrying for us to see so many firework related incidents over the past few weeks caused by people deliberately misusing fireworks.

“As we enter an era where fireworks are more readily available and used for celebrations, we urge the public to think twice before purchasing fireworks and instead consider attending an organized display. Parents should also talk to their children about the dangers of playing with fireworks.

“Our priority is to keep Londoners safe, but when people misuse fireworks it drains resources from other emergencies in the capital.

“Fireworks are explosive and therefore should be handled respectfully and used only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Fireworks Code. If you use fireworks incorrectly, you run the risk of seriously injuring yourself or your loved ones.

“If you are a registered dealer with a special license to sell fireworks, it is illegal to sell fireworks to anyone under the age of 18. You can be fined an unlimited amount and imprisoned for up to 6 months for selling or using fireworks illegally.

“If you choose to use fireworks privately, you should only purchase safe fireworks that are CE marked and never throw or direct them at other people, animals or property.”

The Brigade today also revealed new data ranking Tower Hamlets as the busiest borough in London during fireworks season; Control Officers have received 685 fire-related calls regarding incidents in the district since 2010. A staggering 60 percent of these calls occurred on Bonfire Night alone. The remaining 25 percent are on Diwali and 14 percent on Halloween.

The top five counties also include Ealing, Newham, Enfield and Hounslow, with Control Officers receiving between 340 and 418 fire-related calls throughout the season. More than 200 calls were received each in Southwark, Hillingdon, Croydon, Brent, Bromley, Barking and other boroughs including Dagenham, Hackney, Westminster and Redbridge.

For more information on fireworks, bonfires and candle safety, Visit the London Fire Brigade website. You can also find fireworks displays all over the city on the Brigade’s website.These are the ones where risk assessments have been made.