We’re encouraging residents to enjoy Bonfire Night by attending organised displays and following simple steps to keep our communities safe.
In the lead-up to firework season, we’ve been working closely with partners to ensure everyone can enjoy the celebrations. Teams have been engaging with young people to promote firework safety, checking and clearing fly-tipping hotspots to reduce fire risks and co-ordinating CCTV coverage to support community safety.
A recent youth summit brought together pupils from schools across the city, the Council, the Police, and other local agencies to have an open conversation about the issues and collaborate on finding solutions. The campaign they helped develop on the day is delivering content that’s relatable for thousands of young people across the city.
Remember that Firework Control Zones (FCZs) are in place in nine areas of the city where it will be illegal to set off fireworks, even on private property, until 9 November 2025.
Following applications from communities, the locations were carefully selected based on data and evidence, as well as feedback from residents. These zones are designed to address concerns about the dangerous misuse of fireworks and to protect vulnerable people, animals, and the environment.
We want to make sure residents have the opportunity to enjoy Bonfire Night, so we’re providing support to a range of organised events across the city. These are not only the best way to enjoy fireworks, they’re also the safest. To help you plan your evening, we’ve compiled a list of community events on our website.
You can play your part by putting rubbish out on collection days, storing bins securely, and reporting any large items that could be used for bonfires by emailing waste@edinburgh.gov.uk.
If you spot unauthorised bonfires or firework displays, you can report these to the Council by calling 0131 200 2000, Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:
Bonfire Night is a long-standing tradition that brings families and communities together. However, it’s also a time when serious injuries and accidents can occur if fireworks and bonfires are not handled properly.
We’ve been working closely with our partners, including Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and community groups, to introduce measures that we hope will ensure Bonfire Night is a time to remember for the right reasons.
Our new Firework Control Zones are a direct response to community concerns and, alongside our other work, they will make a real difference – but this is only part of the solution. We’re supporting community-led events across the city and our schools’ teams are partnering with local community groups to create alternative options for young people on Halloween and Bonfire Night.
However, we’re also asking residents to celebrate safely, be considerate of neighbours and pets, and most importantly, to attend an organised display wherever possible.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, said:
In advance of this year’s Bonfire Night period we’ve worked closer than ever before with key partners, including the City of Edinburgh Council and emergency service colleagues to come up with new approaches aimed at deterring and preventing the criminal use of fireworks over the coming weeks.
It has been extremely encouraging to see the level of support and commitment from a range of agencies who all share a vision of reducing criminality and protecting communities from harm.
In addition to the extensive proactive work in advance of Bonfire Night, we will have significant policing resources in place throughout the city to respond to incidents that arise and thereafter undertake robust investigations to ensure offenders are met with the strongest possible criminal justice outcomes.
The levels of disorder and violence experienced by certain parts of the city and directed towards emergency service workers simply must stop. Please help us keep the Bonfire Night period safe and enjoyable for those who wish to participate, and to allow it to pass peacefully for those who don’t.
Youth worker, Lauren Quinn, said:
Youth work is essential in helping to have conversations with young people around risk and decision-making processes. We recognise there is a lot of excitement around this time of year with fireworks, and we hope that young people can make informed decisions and find the balance between keeping both themselves and others safe whilst also having fun.
There has been a lot of work done in local communities to take the time to talk to young people and hear from them about what activities they would like to do around this time of year as an alternative way of spending their time and having fun with friends.
I hope all the young people we have worked with in the run up to bonfires night enjoys the trips and activities that have been organised and make memories that will last!