Fireworks statement

Fire Risk Assessment – Seaford Community Music Festival Firework Display

Following a number of emails expressing concern about the potential fire risk associated with the planned fireworks display, particularly in view of the current dry conditions on the school playing fields and surrounding areas, I would like to provide an update.

This afternoon I carried out a detailed on-site assessment with representatives from Frontier Fireworks Ltd, who will be providing the planned low-noise fireworks display. The display is scheduled to last approximately 4–6 minutes and will take place shortly before 10.00pm on Saturday evening.

Following our inspection, Frontier Fireworks have issued a statement confirming their assessment and the measures they routinely implement to ensure the safe operation of displays, even during periods of prolonged dry weather. This statement is copied at the foot of this email

As part of their standard operating procedures, Frontier Fireworks will undertake a further assessment at approximately 6.00pm on Saturday once the prevailing wind strength and direction can be accurately determined. Should any additional precautions be considered necessary at that time, these will be discussed and implemented before the display proceeds.

In addition to Frontier Fireworks' own comprehensive safety measures, we have arranged, as an extra precaution, to use an external water supply from a property in Corsica Close to dampen the small area of dry grass immediately adjacent to the field boundary during the early afternoon setup period.

The main playing fields themselves are regularly mown and currently consist of short grass, which is not considered to present a significant fire risk. The remaining boundaries surrounding the firing area are predominantly green vegetation and are likewise not regarded as presenting a high fire hazard.

During the fireworks display, event marshals will also be positioned along the Corsica Close boundary to monitor the area throughout the display and respond immediately should any issue arise.

The safety of everyone attending the Seaford Community Music Festival, together with the protection of neighbouring properties and the surrounding environment, remains our highest priority. We are satisfied that the professional assessment undertaken by Frontier Fireworks, combined with the additional precautionary measures being implemented by us, the event organisers, provides appropriate safeguards for the display to proceed safely.

Kind regards

David Pattenden

For Seaford Rotary Club Community Music Festival

Statement from Frontier Fireworks Ltd

Thank you for contacting us regarding the concerns raised by some local residents about fire hazards for the fireworks display.

It is always good to have concerns raised about safety at fireworks displays and perhaps in this dry spell I can see why some people may ask questions about fire prevention.

We have 30 years of experience in firing displays safely in all types of weather and have over more recent years experienced very dry hot summers. All displays have been fired safely without incident.

In these circumstances we always provide more firefighting equipment, a higher number of fire extinguishers and water sprayers just in case and are not concerned about the area that we are using as our firing site.

We will, as always, monitor wind strength and direction before the display and should the need arise will call upon extra staff to monitor the grass etc in the area that the wind direction is heading.

There is no cause for panic, we will use our expert judgment so that we can concentrate on performing a safe display.

Kind Regards,

Helen Stenlake 

Display Director 

Frontier Fireworks Ltd