As South Australians prepare to welcome the New Year this Wednesday night, the state’s fire services are calling on the community to celebrate responsibly and leave fireworks displays to licensed professionals.

Between 1 December 2024 and 31 January 2025, there were approximately 30 incidents caused by unlicensed fireworks, a third of which occurred during the 24-hour New Year’s Eve celebration period, placing unnecessary strain on emergency services and increasing risk to community safety.

The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and SA Country Fire Service (CFS) remind South Australians that the private use of fireworks is unsafe and illegal.

While fireworks are a popular New Year’s tradition, using them without a licence presents serious and unnecessary risks. Illegal fireworks can cause severe injuries, burns, fires, and even fatalities.

Professional displays are carefully planned and rigorously risk-assessed to protect public safety and manage fire danger.

The state is currently in the fire danger season, with hot, dry conditions and limited rainfall increasing the risk of fast-moving fires.

MFS Chief Officer Jeff Swann says every New Year’s Eve, the MFS and CFS attend a number of fires caused by illegal fireworks. 

“This occurs during an already demanding period, unnecessarily diverting vital resources away from other emergencies.

“We want this New Year’s Eve to be a time of celebration, not tragedy. The risks simply are not worth it, for your safety, your loved ones, or the wider community.

This New Year’s Eve, we urge the community to help keep our firefighters available where they are needed most, by leaving fireworks to the professionals.

SA Country Fire Service Chief Officer Brett Loughlin says illegal fireworks are not the way to celebrate with your friends and family this New Years – they put lives, property and CFS volunteers at unnecessary risk.  

“Every preventable fire takes our volunteers away from their own families during a time when they should be celebrating safely at home.

“All it takes is one spark or ember to ignite a fire which could quickly take hold, so we urge all South Australians to reconsider making reckless decisions this New Year’s Eve.”

This New Year’s Eve, enjoy the spectacle, respect the law, and leave the fireworks to the experts.

The public is encouraged to attend one of the many licensed fireworks displays across Adelaide and regional South Australia, all delivered by qualified pyrotechnicians under strict safety controls.

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