Warnings after fireworks cause Huntly fire, Melbourne injury

On Christmas Eve fireworks triggered a grass fire in a Huntly paddock. The CFA and police attended.

On Boxing Day a 49-year-old Melbourne man was critically injured while lighting fireworks. 

The man was hit in the face by a cracker at Werribee and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Bendigo police and the CFA typically saw a spike in the use of illegal fireworks at this time of year, especially on and around New Year’s Eve.

Bendigo police sergeant Mark Bell said that fireworks were dangerous, and not only to those discharging them.

“Living in the environment that we live in, they are an extreme danger to the community due to the fire risk,” he said.

CFA district two operations officer Andy Waterson said those fires tied up crews on jobs that could have been avoided.

Many of those jobs were for fires fueled by long grass.

“Fireworks certainly start small grass fires – and lots of them,” Mr Waterson said.

Crews were also often sent out because members of the public had heard explosions.

“When we get reports of fireworks and resultant fires generally it’s people having a good time, setting them off and not realising the possible consequences of things going wrong,” sergeant Bell said.

“Any person we find using or possessing them in breach of the law will be prosecuted.”

Those hoping to see legal fireworks discharged by licenced pyro-technicians could check out the City of Greater Bendigo’s two displays scheduled for New Year’s Eve.

Related: New Year’s Eve fireworks expert shares secrets from the pyrotechnics business

The sky would erupt in colour on Sunday at 9.15pm, with more fireworks to welcome in the new year at midnight.

Both pyrotechnic displays would take place at Rosalind Park.

Police urged anyone with information on the identity of those who caused the Huntly fire on Christmas Eve to contact the Bendigo Police Station.