Bonfire in Cornwall? Penzance firefighters ask you to make one call

The printer in the watch room at Penzance Fire Station starts chattering. A siren goes up, firefighters drop what they are doing and head for the engines. The message on the sheet reads: bonfire out of control.

It is the opening of a short video shared by Cornwall Council, and with Bonfire Night this Thursday (5 November), the crew from Orange Watch want anyone planning a fire at home to do one simple thing first.

Call fire control before you light it

If you are planning a bonfire, let Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service know before you start. The number for fire control is 0203 162 2240.

“If you’re planning on having a bonfire this year, make sure you contact Fire Control on 0203 162 2240 to prevent any false calls,” says James, a firefighter at the station.

The reason is simple. A neighbour spots smoke or flames, assumes the worst and dials 999. If fire control already knows about your bonfire, crews are far less likely to be sent out to something that is under control.

“If you fail to contact fire control for having a controlled burn, you could be taking resources away from emergency situations,” the video warns.

And the crews ask for a second call too, at the end. The message in the video is to ring the bonfire line at the start and the finish of your fire.

How to keep your bonfire safe

Sandy, Watch Manager at Penzance, and the rest of the watch run through the basics in the clip:

• Pick the spot carefully. Position your bonfire safely away from buildings and power lines.
• No accelerants. Don’t use petrol or paraffin to get it going.
• Stay with it. Do not leave your bonfire unattended.
• Keep water close by. Have it ready before you light.
• Put it out properly. Extinguish the fire by drenching it with lots of water.
• If it gets out of hand, call 999.

Prefer someone else to do the lighting?

If you would rather leave the fire to the organisers, there are plenty of public events across the county this week. We have rounded them up in our guide to every Cornwall fireworks and Bonfire Night display, with dates and prices.

The video ends with the crew pulling on their kit and an engine rolling out of the bay. One firefighter leans out of the cab with a parting message for anyone lighting up this week. “Have fun.”

📷Credit: Cornwall Council