Bonfire Night Safety: A Practical Guide for Event Organisers

A successful Bonfire Night event depends on much more than the fireworks display itself.

Organisers need to think about the whole site: spectators, entrances and exits, security, first aid, emergency access, vehicle movements, the bonfire, the fireworks and how staff communicate when something changes.

Good Bonfire Night safety comes from treating the event as one connected operation.

Start with the site

Before the event opens, organisers need to understand how people, staff and vehicles will move around the venue.

Key areas may include:

• spectator zones;
• bonfire and firework areas;
• entrances and exits;
• first aid points;
• security positions;
• emergency access routes;
• parking and vehicle routes;
• event control.

The important question is not simply whether these areas exist.

It is whether they will still work properly when the site is busy, visibility is reduced and large numbers of people are arriving or leaving at the same time.

An emergency access route, for example, needs to remain clear throughout the event, not just look suitable on the original site plan.

Organisers should also consider where spectators are likely to gather naturally. Viewing areas, food stands, narrow gateways and exits can all become pressure points once the event is busy.

Give people clear responsibilities

When something happens, uncertainty can slow down the response.

Before the public arrive, staff should know:

• who is responsible for each area;
• who can make operational decisions;
• how an incident should be reported;
• how information reaches event control;
• who contacts the emergency services;
• what happens if the display needs to be delayed, changed or stopped.

This is especially important when several teams are working together, such as security, stewards, first aid personnel, site staff and firework operators.

If a member of security spots a developing issue, they should know immediately who needs to be informed and how to reach them.

Those responsibilities should be agreed before the event starts.

Think beyond the bonfire itself

Bonfire safety starts with keeping spectators appropriately separated from the fire, but organisers also need to consider the wider environment.

Wind direction, crowd movement, restricted areas, nearby structures and emergency access can all affect how the event operates.

The same applies to the fireworks display.

Spectator areas, firing areas and fallout zones should be considered together, with clear separation between members of the public and areas used for the display.

Organisers should also be clear on what happens if:

• spectators enter a restricted area;
• weather conditions change;
• an access route becomes compromised;
• the display needs to be delayed;
• part of the site needs to be cleared;
• another incident needs attention elsewhere.

The more of this that is agreed in advance, the easier it is to respond calmly and consistently on the night.

Crowd movement matters

One of the biggest operational pressures at a Bonfire Night event can happen before and after the display.

Queues may form at entrances. Popular viewing areas can become crowded. Large numbers of people may begin leaving at the same time once the fireworks finish.

Car parks, narrow gateways and pedestrian routes can also become pressure points.

Security and stewarding teams therefore need to know what to do if congestion starts to build.

That might mean:

• reporting a growing queue;
• requesting additional support;
• redirecting spectators;
• keeping an access route clear;
• alerting event control to an emerging issue.

Spotting a problem is only useful if the information can quickly reach the people who can respond.

Make communications part of the safety plan

Bonfire Night events can involve teams working across very different parts of the site.

Security may be positioned at entrances. Stewards may be spread through spectator areas. First aid personnel may be based elsewhere. Event control and firework operators may need updates from several teams at once.

Communication therefore needs to be planned alongside the rest of the event.

Two-way radios can give teams a direct way to share short operational updates without relying on individual phone calls.

They can be useful when:

• an entrance becomes congested;
• first aid is required;
• someone enters a restricted area;
• an emergency route becomes obstructed;
• security requires support;
• event control needs to pass an instruction to several teams.

But simply handing out radios is not enough.

Organisers should consider:

• who actually needs a radio;
• which teams need to communicate with each other;
• whether separate channels are required;
• how urgent information reaches event control;
• whether coverage works across the whole site;
• what backup equipment is available.

A small local display may only need a simple setup. A larger event involving security, stewarding, parking, first aid and several operational teams may need a more structured radio plan.

Make sure radio coverage matches the site

A radio system is only useful if it works where staff actually need it.

Large outdoor sites, buildings, temporary structures and the physical layout of a venue can all affect communications.

Before the event opens, radios should be tested in the areas where teams will be working, including:

• entrances and exits;
• parking areas;
• spectator zones;
• event control;
• first aid points;
• perimeter locations;
• any areas separated from the main event space.

Finding a weak area during setup gives organisers a chance to address it before staff are relying on the system.

It is also worth planning for the full operational period, not just the public opening hours. Security, site teams and contractors may need communications before spectators arrive and after they leave.

Could body cameras have a role?

For some events, body cameras may also be considered for security personnel or staff dealing with particular interactions with the public.

They should have a clear operational purpose.

Before using body cameras, organisers should consider:

• why recording may be needed;
• which roles will use cameras;
• when recording should take place;
• how footage will be handled;
• who should be able to access recordings;
• what procedures staff need to follow.

Body cameras should support the wider security plan rather than replace good stewarding, supervision or communication.

Plan for changing weather conditions

Conditions on the night may be different from those expected when the event was first planned.

Wind direction may change. Ground conditions may deteriorate. Rain can affect pedestrian routes. Visibility may become worse than expected.

Organisers should therefore consider in advance:

• whether spectators may need to be moved;
• whether the display could be delayed;
• who would make that decision;
• how teams around the site would be informed;
• how spectators would be updated;
• whether any routes or areas would need to close.

A contingency plan is much easier to follow when those decisions have already been considered.

Check the site again on the day

Even a well-planned event can change once the day arrives.

A vehicle could block an access route. A barrier may have moved. Ground conditions may have changed. Equipment may not be where expected.

Before opening, organisers should check that:

• restricted areas are clearly established;
• entrances and exits are unobstructed;
• emergency access remains available;
• lighting is working;
• communications equipment has been tested;
• staff understand their positions;
• first aid arrangements are ready;
• escalation procedures are understood.

A plan is only useful if it still reflects the conditions on the ground.

Brief the team properly

The final staff briefing is the last opportunity to make sure everyone understands how the event will operate.

It should cover practical information such as:

• individual roles;
• restricted areas;
• entrances and exits;
• emergency arrangements;
• radio channels and call signs;
• how locations are identified;
• incident reporting;
• who makes key decisions.

For staff using radios, it is also worth reinforcing basic radio discipline.

Messages should be clear and concise, locations should be described consistently and priority traffic should not be lost among routine conversation.

The briefing does not need to be complicated. What matters is that people leave knowing what they are responsible for, who they report to and what to do when something changes.

Common Bonfire Night planning mistakes

Many event safety problems do not come from a complete lack of planning. They come from parts of the plan not joining up properly.

Treating the site plan as static

A site can look very different once it is full of spectators.

Routes that appear spacious when empty may become congested once queues, barriers, catering areas and moving crowds are added.

Leaving communications until late

Radio requirements are easier to plan when they are considered alongside staff positions, site layout and the event command structure.

Leaving this until handsets are being ordered can mean missing more important questions about coverage, channels and escalation.

Failing to plan the end of the event

Large numbers of people leaving at the same time can put pressure on exits, pedestrian routes and car parks.

The period immediately after the display deserves just as much attention as the arrival period.

Assuming everyone understands the escalation process

Even experienced security and event staff may be working with a different reporting structure than usual.

The escalation process should still be confirmed during the briefing.

Ordering radios based only on headcount

Not every member of staff necessarily needs a handset.

Radio allocation should reflect roles, locations and responsibilities rather than simply the total number of people working on site.

Bonfire Night safety checklist for organisers

Before opening the event, organisers should be able to answer these questions confidently:

1. Is the site suitable for the planned audience, bonfire and fireworks?
2. Are spectator and restricted areas clearly established?
3. Are entrances, exits and emergency routes clear?
4. Have weather and site conditions been considered?
5. Does every team understand its responsibilities?
6. Do security and stewards know how to report a developing problem?
7. Can event control communicate with the teams it needs to reach?
8. Have radios been tested across the working areas?
9. Are first aid arrangements ready?
10. Is there a clear process for delaying, stopping or changing the event if necessary?

The checklist should support the wider event plan rather than replace more detailed planning for the individual venue.

Frequently asked questions

What should be included in a Bonfire Night safety plan?

The plan should reflect the individual event, but it will usually need to consider the site layout, bonfire and firework areas, spectators, entrances and exits, emergency access, crowd movement, first aid, staff responsibilities, communications and contingency arrangements.

Are two-way radios useful for Bonfire Night events?

They can be particularly useful where security, stewards, first aid and event control are working across separate locations.

The radio plan should consider coverage, channels, user roles, escalation procedures and backup equipment rather than focusing only on the number of handsets required.

How many radios does a Bonfire Night event need?

There is no standard number.

The requirement depends on the size and layout of the site, the number of operational teams and which roles need direct communication.

Start by identifying who needs to communicate, which locations need coverage and how information should reach event control.

Should different teams use different radio channels?

Possibly.

A smaller event may work well with a simple setup, while larger events may benefit from separating teams such as security, parking or operations onto different channels.

The important point is that urgent information must still have a clear route to supervisors or event control.

Can security staff use body cameras at a Bonfire Night event?

Body cameras may be appropriate for some security roles where there is a clear operational reason for using them.

Organisers should have clear procedures around when cameras are used, staff responsibilities, how footage is handled and who can access recordings.

Plan the event as one operation

Bonfire Night safety is not about one piece of equipment or one part of the site.

Site planning, crowd movement, security, emergency access, weather planning and communications all need to work together.

A useful question for organisers is:

If something changes on the night, can the right people identify it, communicate it and respond quickly?

Clear roles, reliable communications and a well-briefed team can make that much easier.

Planning a Bonfire Night event?

Digitall Comms can support temporary events with radio hire and body camera hire, helping security, stewards and event control stay connected across the site.

Tell us your event date, location and team requirements and we’ll help you plan the right radio setup for your site.

Speak to the Digitall Comms team about event radio hire and body camera hire.