The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend: #7for70

From beacon lighting to hosting street parties to picnics in the park – however you intend to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee this bank holiday (2nd – 5th June 2022), we want you to do so safely!

In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service. As many of us are eager to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen reaching this historic milestone, we want to help keep you safe while enjoying the festivities. 

Head of Community Safety for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, St. John Towell, said: 

“With a number of activities and events taking place over the bank holiday weekend, it’s easy to become complacent or get distracted. We want our communities to celebrate and enjoy themselves, however, it’s important to keep safety in mind when doing so. 

We encourage the public to attend organised displays or events to reduce the pressure on our emergency services. If you are planning a beacon lighting or a bonfire over the weekend, be sure to follow our guidance and only call 999 in an emergency. This will be an extremely busy period for our Joint Fire Control and crews and by reporting something non-urgent, you could be drawing fundamental and valuable resources away from our communities, placing unnecessary risk on lives.

We’re also urging the public to be aware of road closures, events and other activities that could affect your journey. Plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

On top of the planned festivities, special Jubilee medals have been awarded to serving frontline members of the fire, police, emergency services, prison services and the Armed Forces as a token of the nation’s thanks.  

Close to 1,000 South Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff have received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, highlighting their operational excellence and commitment to serving the communities of South Wales.”  

We’ve put together our seven steps to keep your celebrations running smoothly:

BEACONS

The beacon lighting will be the first community event during the four-day celebration. 

The beacons allow communities, individuals and organisations to pay tribute to HM The Queen as part of the official Platinum Jubilee Weekend celebrations. 

There is a long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, weddings and coronations with the lighting of beacons, and this Platinum Jubilee, we’re encouraging you to join one of the official Community Beacon events taking place across the UK.  

You can find an event near you on this Map of Events Page.

If you’re planning to host your own beacon lighting, please visit our Controlled Burns Page and don’t forget to Register Your Event.

REMEMBER:

• There are different types of beacons, and they have different requirements. You can find out more here: https://www.queensjubileebeacons.com/  
• Ensure the structure and base are of a sound nature, for example, its able to withstand a ladder pitched against it for loading with wood 
• Some beacons are already fixed in position, so be aware of structures or vegetation which may be different from the previous lighting 
• Barriers or a cordon around the immediate vicinity of the beacon will protect the public from falling debris / embers 

NEVER:

• Burn plastics, metals or use any accelerants 
• Light the beacon in high winds 

Someone should always be on site to supervise the beacon, during and after lighting 

Bonfires

Bonfires can also be a significant fire risk. We advise that residents refrain from having fires in gardens, and be considerate of any neighbours.

We also do not advise anyone to burn garden or household waste. Please store it for when you can use your local authority waste, recycling and composting services.

Further information is available on our Garden Fires Page. Please also refer to Government guidance .

BARBECUES

Planning a Jubilee BBQ? Keep the steaks low by following our safety advice! 

• Never light a barbeque indoors  
• Make sure that your barbeque is in good working order  
• Keep a bucket of water, a bucket of sand or a garden hose nearby – in case of emergencies! 
• Ensure your barbeque is on a flat surface and well away from buildings, fences, trees and shrubs  
• Use only enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbeque to a depth of about 50mm (two inches) 
• Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area  
• DON’T attempt to cook if you’ve been drinking alcohol 

FIREWORKS

Fireworks can frighten people and animals, after all, they are explosives.

• Make sure all fireworks comply with approved standards and regulations
• Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
• Keep fireworks in a closed box and always follow the instructions carefully when using them
• Light them at arm’s length using a taper and stand well back
• Never go back to them once they are lit – even if a firework hasn’t gone off, it could still explode
• Never throw fireworks and never put them in your pocket
• Respect your neighbours – don’t let off fireworks late at night and remember there are laws to follow
• Take care with sparklers – never give them to children under five
• Even when they have gone out they are still hot so put sparklers in a bucket of water after use
• Keep your pets indoors throughout the evening

RUBBISH

If you have a increase of rubbish following the bank holiday weekend, don’t be tempted to burn garden or household waste. 

Instead…take responsibility for your waste!

Contact or visit your local authority’s website for information on collections and recycling centres, or visit Wales Recycles. 

If you choose to dump rubbish you could be fuelling the fire and choosing to contribute to a tragedy.

WATER SAFETY

If you’re celebrating near water or the coastline, be SAFE: 

• SPOT the dangers 
• ADVICE – follow safety signs and advice 
• FRIEND – stay close to a friend or family member 
• EMERGENCY – shout for help and call 999 or 112 

In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service if inland or the Coastguard at the coast.

For more advice and guidance, please visit our Water Safety Page.

TRAVEL

There will be a number of road closures due to street parties, activities and events, so plan your journey in advance!

Check your with your Local Authority for any road closures or celebrations that could effect you, keep emergency service vehicle access in mind f you’re having a party and remember, if you’ve been drinking alcohol, you could still be over the legal limit the next day.

Why don’t you familiarise yourself with the Fatal 5?

ALCOHOL

Injuries and accidents can occur under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Being distracted or falling asleep while cooking are both major contributors to domestic fires, but adding a few cheeky drink into the mix could be a recipe for disaster, putting your home, loved ones and yourself at risk.

We know it’s distressing when you’re waiting for help, but abusing emergency service workers is not the answer. We are here to help you, and can’t do that if you attack us. The safety of our crews comes first and if it becomes compromised, might have no choice but to leave a scene.

If you need assistance from us or our emergency service colleagues, please respect us and work with us, not against us.