With South Australians set to ring in the new year tonight, the state’s fire services are imploring the public to leave fireworks to the experts.

The Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and SA Country Fire Service (CFS) encourage the community to make the most of public fireworks displays across Adelaide and regional South Australia that are run by licensed pyrotechnicians. 

A list of approved, licensed community fireworks events is available via the SafeWork SA website

Minister for Emergency Services Joe Szakacs says the start of a new year should be a time for optimism and hope, not despair.

“New Year’s Eve should be a time of celebration, of reflection and looking forward. This New Year’s Eve, we want to see the community safely celebrating the past year and welcoming the start of 2023. 

“Our fire services do not want to see you this New Year’s Eve. They don’t want to see any family starting the new year to needless harm or risk due to illegal fireworks. Their simple message is, leave fireworks to the experts.” 

MFS Chief Officer Michael Morgan says the significant dangers of using fireworks without a licence are just not worth it.

“Our firefighters don’t want to see you for all the wrong reasons this New Year’s Eve. Illegal fireworks bring the real risk of severe injury, disfigurement, and death, which is not the way anyone should welcome the new year. Adding alcohol consumption into the mix only heightens the risk.”

“We’re also asking adults to always supervise young children with sparklers, to prevent burns or accidental fires. Sparklers can’t be used in areas where there are Total Fire Bans in place.” 

Fireworks risk is not limited to regional areas. In 2020, the illegal use of fireworks in Adelaide’s CBD led to a fire in a vacant block that firefighters were called to extinguish. 

CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin says not to put loved ones at risk by using illegal fireworks at a New Year’s Eve party.

“The recent fire weather conditions have seen the CFS respond to a large number of grass fires across the state since Christmas Day,” he says.

“With dangerous fire days predicted to continue over the next week, illegal fireworks increase the chance of a bushfire starting, putting communities at risk.”

“All it takes is one spark or ember to ignite a fire, which will burn well under these weather conditions, and we do not want New Year’s celebrations turning to catastrophe because of one reckless act.” 

The state’s fire services remind the public that ‘sky lanterns’ – a paper lantern that is set alight to make it float in the air – are banned from use in South Australia. Sky lanterns pose a high fire risk if they land on dry grass or become trapped under the eaves of a building.

For more information about fireworks display regulations in South Australia, including obtaining a licence or permit, visit the SafeWork SA website and Explosives (Fireworks) Regulation