Fireworks

[first mate]

Does anyone know the reason for the random fireworks over the last few nights?

[Sue]

16 minutes ago, first mate said:

Does anyone know the reason for the random fireworks over the last few nights?

I just assumed someone was having a party.

[first mate]

Some 4-day party! Sorry, just my view, but I feel random fireworks are really anti-social. If scheduled, with plenty of notice, people who need to can at least escape for the duration (well most people, I guess).

I know those who adore fireworks will feel differently, but they can cause so much costly suffering and damage to animals and owners.

Edited September 9 by first mate

[KS23]

There was just a bunch of kids letting them off at the park now - didn’t seem menacing  just kids being kids but i do feel for all the dogs as it’s still daylight as they are just on their evening walks 😞

[Azalea]

Hate people who let off loud fireworks.  We had neighbours two doors down who used to let off the extremely loud fireworks in their back garden.   This was usually, but not always, on the days around Guy Fawkes and New Year’s.  It was torture.  I felt as if I was in the middle of them and it seemed as if they were directly outside our windows. I often involuntarily screamed as they were so loud and startling.  The dog was petrified and I was worried they would crash into the house or garden. Thankfully they’ve moved and taken their firework obsession with them.  I know someone whose dog collapsed and died during a bout of neighbourly fireworks.  Many dogs and cats go missing during firework season due to trying to escape from them.

[first mate]

1 hour ago, KS23 said:

There was just a bunch of kids letting them off at the park now - didn’t seem menacing  just kids being kids but i do feel for all the dogs as it’s still daylight as they are just on their evening walks 😞

Hmmm, wonder how said kids got hold of fireworks in the first place? If provided by adults then highly irresponsible, in my view.

[first mate]

Another impromptu fireworks party tonight?

[HeadNun]

It’s getting a bit annoying. We’ve a nervous dog who trembles when they go off. I know to expect it around Halloween and Diwali but it seems to be happening more through the year. 

[PeckhamNicola]

On 09/09/2025 at 20:16, first mate said:

Hmmm, wonder how said kids got hold of fireworks in the first place? If provided by adults then highly irresponsible, in my view.

Unfortunately there are plenty of shops which don't care and will sell vapes, alcohol and weed to minors, I'm sure they won't care about selling them fireworks. Or the kids nick them.

[kbabes]

On 09/09/2025 at 18:18, KS23 said:

There was just a bunch of kids letting them off at the park now - didn’t seem menacing  just kids being kids but i do feel for all the dogs as it’s still daylight as they are just on their evening walks 😞

It’s illegal to let off fireworks in a public place, there were kids in Peckham Rye Park wearing hoods & masks letting off fireworks around 5pm yesterday & generally acting menacing..  loads of people walking dogs at the time along with families & kids using the park!  I reported to the police but as usual nobody turned up!

Suggest anyone who is fed up with this antisocial behaviour make sure it’s reported, the more reports the better, hopefully then something will be done.   At the moment they just know they can get away with it!

Edited September 14 by kbabes
Grammar correction

[MCK100]

I saw a policeman with a bike in Peckham Park the other day, just standing around, keeping an eye out. I was pleased - it looks as if police are trying to increase their presence in the park, following several recent events. 

[kbabes]

Yes, I also saw a ‘policeman’ (PCO) on a bike during the week..  was around 11.00 !  I guess better than nothing but they need to be there during early evenings 

[first mate]

Fireworks again tonight? Is this going to go on until next summer?

[malumbu]

HHV tickets going fast

[first mate]

More let off last night, early evening. I do not ever recall hearing fireworks on such a regular basis at this time of year. For those walking dogs after dark, this must be of concern.

[PeckhamRose]

Friends of Peckham Rye Park sent emails to its members (do join if you can; it's useful) saying a few nights ago a fire was started on the SE22 side of the park by kids with fireworks.  Horrific.  

[first mate]

It feels like it might be an extension of the summer water bombing spate. The sad thing is this could really put off some visiting the park. I really hope the council seriously consider putting some of their huge parking surplus to funding a serious and permanent warden and police presence in the park; it is needed.

[first mate]

Fireworks again tonight, Melbourne Grove North LTN area.

[first mate]

Diwali starts 12th October. Is there any way to predict where and when fireworks will be going off? We also have November 5th, Halloween and then New Year and Chinese New Year.

Given the availability of low noise fireworks, does anyone else think it is anti social to let off the noisy kind? 

Edited October 5 by first mate

[Sue]

21 hours ago, first mate said:

Given the availability of low noise fireworks, does anyone else think it is anti social to let off the noisy kind? 

Yes, but the people who are doing it probably don't think about the effect on other people and animals.

Without wishing to spoil others' enjoyment, I actually think fireworks should be banned for private purchase and only used in public displays.

I thought at one point this was going to happen, but maybe I have misremembered.

I think fireworks are potentially dangerous,  as well as antisocial.

Maybe sparklers are ok!

Edited October 6 by Sue

[first mate]

They are also really, really environmentally unfriendly as full of toxins that do not degrade. 

[Sue]

Around seventy years ago on 5 November, a rocket from who knows where landed on my little sister's woolly hat when we were in the garden with sparklers.

Another year when we were children, my neighbour's firework party ended very prematurely (but with a wonderful and unexpected display) when a rocket from elsewhere landed in their pile of fireworks waiting to be let off.

Nobody was hurt on either occasion, but they could have been.

I can't understand, when there is so much more legislation around health and safety and noise these days (and the environment) why the sale of fireworks is still permitted, apart from for public displays, and with a person properly qualified to set them off safely.

Same with bonfires. Even fairly recently I went to a party in a community garden (not in London) where there were a load of small children near a very large bonfire, some of whom did not seem to be very well supervised. They were doing things like  toasting marshmallows on sticks.

I am unfortunately cursed with getting stressed very easily, and I spent most of the time worrying that a child was going to get hurt 😭 

Edited October 7 by Sue
Typo and adding information

[Penguin68]

All fireworks (even sparklers, which remain very hot when they go out, hence advice to have metal buckets of water for extinguishing them) are dangerous, but then so is life. Far better to alert children to dangers so they can avoid them, and take sensible precautions. And don't create fearful children. Get the children to warn the adults of dangers, make it a game but get them alert. But don't let them light fireworks themselves. Cautious but not fearful is your object. And if you're at a display which you feel is being badly/ dangerously run, then leave. 

[Sue]

6 minutes ago, Penguin68 said:

All fireworks (even sparklers, which remain very hot when they go out, hence advice to have metal buckets of water for extinguishing them) are dangerous, but then so is life. Far better to alert children to dangers so they can avoid them, and take sensible precautions. And don't create fearful children. Get the children to warn the adults of dangers, make it a game but get them alert. But don't let them light fireworks themselves. Cautious but not fearful is your object. And if you're at a display which you feel is being badly/ dangerously run, then leave. 

I agree with all that, but unfortunately there seem to be a significant number of people who are not so sensible.

[first mate]

Ditto and without wanting to be the fun police is there really any good reason for displays to be so loud? Isn't the visual aspect entertaining enough? In this age of technology I fail to see why substitutes, like drone light displays, cannot be found - assuming these are actually more environmentally friendly?

Edited October 7 by first mate