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Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service acknowledge that Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists.
During this important time, our service would like to offer fire safety advice to people celebrating Diwali.
Diwali is known as 'Festival of the Lights' and sees an increase in the use of candles (aka divas), lanterns and oil lamps. It is believed that light signifies goodness, enlightenment, knowledge and wisdom, therefore candles and lamps are used throughout the day and into the night to ward off darkness and evil.
Statistics show that there is an increased fire risk at Diwali time, because of candles, lanterns and some people use fireworks to celebrate - but by taking just a few simple precautions you can reduce the risks for yourself and your family.
Smoke alarms save lives - so please make sure you have a working smoke alarm installed on every floor of your home. If there is a fire, a smoke alarm will immediately warn you, giving you and everyone in your home time to escape to safety.
Always place candles firmly in a proper holder so they don't fall over and on a heat resistant surface
Put out candles before you leave a room and before you go to bed
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets
Keep candles away from ribbons, greetings cards and other decorations - these could easily catch fire
Keep candles out of draughts and away from curtains, other fabrics or furniture, which could catch fire
Keep candles away from clothes and hair - if there's any chance you could forget a candle is there and lean across it, put it somewhere else.
Don't get distracted when you are cooking - turn off or turn down the heat if you have to leave the cooking unattended
Keep tea towels, clothes and electrical leads away from the cooker and hob
Make sure saucepan handles are not sticking out from the hob or over a naked flame
Remember to check that the oven or hob are switched off after you have finished cooking
Take extra care when deep-fat frying or cooking with oil - hot oil can catch fire easily - use a thermostat controlled deep-fat fryer which will make sure the fat doesn't get too hot
We would always recommend going to an organised bonfire or firework display as it is much safer to do so.
If you're planning to organise your own bonfire as part of your celebrations, please plan ahead and follow the safety advice below to help ensure everyone enjoys the evening safely. Learn more about our specific Bonfire Safety Advice.
Check the local rules on when fireworks can legally be set off.
Only buy fireworks from a reputable retailer, and make sure they meet British Standards (look for BS 7114, CE or UKCA markings).
Store fireworks in a closed box, away from children and pets.
Light fireworks one at a time, at arm’s length, using a taper.
Stand well back and keep others at a safe distance.
Make sure rocket fireworks are directed well away from spectators, buildings, and flammable materials.
Keep pets indoors during displays.
Drink alcohol if you are lighting fireworks or responsible for a bonfire.
Put fireworks in your pocket or throw them.
Go near a firework that has been lit but hasn’t gone off – it could still explode.
Sparklers can reach temperatures of around 2,000°C – that’s around 20 times hotter than boiling water. Handle them with care.
Light sparklers one at a time and hold them at arm’s length.
Always supervise children using sparklers.
Insert the end of the sparkler into a carrot or similar object before lighting to make it easier and safer to hold.
Wear gloves.
Place used sparklers in a bucket of water once they have gone out.
Give sparklers to children under five.
Hold a baby or young child while using a sparkler.
Last updated: Thursday, 9 October 2025