FIREWORKS that form the traditional finale for the Battle of Flowers are set to go ahead next week, in spite of fire service advice that such displays should not take place because of the prolonged dry spell.
After the Island’s deputy chief fire officer Bryn Coleman told the JEP that it was recommended not to stage any fireworks displays due to the risk of starting fires, Battle chair Martyn Maguire said he was confident that the display to conclude the Moonlight Parade on Saturday 15 August would go ahead as planned.
“Our fireworks will be set off [from a barge] at sea, at high tide, and the fall-out won’t go anywhere near land, so there should not be any issue,” explained Mr Maguire.
“On the day we will assess the risk, as we always do, and the display will only go ahead when we are satisfied that everything’s safe.”
The Battle chair, who formerly worked for the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, said that all the necessary permissions were in place for the annual event, which starts with a day-time parade on the afternoon of Friday 14 August.
Mr Coleman said that the fire service was stepping up advice around fireworks, bonfires and barbecues as a result of the prolonged period of hot and dry weather experienced so far this summer.
“Our advice is not to have firework displays and bonfires until the fire severity index has dropped,” he said. “We are an Island of limited firefighting resources – it’s a matter of common sense.”
Many Islanders have expressed concern on social media about whether two private displays scheduled for this weekend in St Brelade should go ahead, given the risk of vegetation catching fire.
Having issued posts about the displays on Saturday scheduled for weddings at La Pulente and St Brelade’s Bay, James Bevis of Starburst Fireworks said that thorough risk assessments would be carried out on the day.
“I really do understand people’s concerns regarding fire, and that’s why we do the risk assessments,” he said. “I’ve had this business for almost 30 years, and we have put on thousands of displays.”
Mr Bevis said that during the past eight weeks he had taken decisions not to proceed with three displays, totalling £16,000 worth of business, because he was unwilling to compromise on safety.
Some Islanders criticised St Brelade Constable Steve Pallett for authorising the displays given current weather conditions, however Mr Pallett clarified on social media that Constables did not currently have such powers.
Both Mr Pallett and Mr Bevis said they would welcome discussions with new Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles about updating the existing Explosives Law.
Fire safety concerns also prompted a decision by the Infrastructure and Environment Department to temporarily close barbecue sites in St John, St Martin and St Ouen because of the risk of fire.
The department said the barbecues would remain out of use until conditions improved.
The fire service attended 15 outdoor fires during July, including four caused by the careless disposal of barbecues and five resulting from bonfires or campfires that went out of control. Four more outdoor fires have already been reported so far in August, including one at La Collette on Tuesday, which stemmed from a spark from an angle-grinder.
Many parts of Europe have suffered the devastating effects of wildfires over the past few weeks, while there was also a recent blaze in Sark.
