So, you’ve bought your fireworks and have planned out an incredible display. Now it’s time to position the fireworks and get ready for the show, but how are you going to light them?

A key part of the planning for any fireworks show should be how to light each type of pyrotechnic product safely. It’s not simply a matter of whipping out a lighter and running away as fast as you can – this is how accidents happen, and it could also ruin the quality of your display.

For a safe and stress-free display, here’s our guide to safe firework lighting techniques…

Portfires

Nearly all suppliers of fireworks, such as 1^st Galaxy Fireworks, sell portfires. These are tubes of pyrotechnic powder which burn slowly until they reach the firework fuse. A portfire has a burn time of around 3-4 minutes, which gives you ample time to light them safely and get a safe distance away. They are used by professional firework display organisers and recommended as the best way to light your fireworks. Portfires are cost-effective as they’re usually very cheap to buy and they also provide an intense flame that resists all but the strongest rain and wind. This means your display can go ahead even in bad weather conditions.

Important tips for using portfires include:

• Wearing gloves – they may be a safe lighting method, but it’s always a good idea to wear protective gloves when running a fireworks show
• Keeping portfires dry – if they’re damp, they won’t work effectively or at all
• Not keeping them in your pockets – as they have the potential to burn if a stray spark from the display should reach them
• Having lots of portfires handy – anyone running a display should have plenty of portfires plus spares just in case of problems

Other lighting options

Fireworks fans use a range of other methods to light their fireworks, including windproof or turbo lighters. These are gas-powered lighters that produce an intense blue flame, and don’t blow out easily in the wind. Quality varies with these lighters, with some being not as windproof as they claim and others getting clogged with soot and having to be replaced.

Chef’s blow torches, a mini version of the standard blowtorch, are also quite popular as they have a large flame and can be switched on and off on demand. However, these too can be prone to clogging and being affected by the wind.

What not to use

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t used petrol-soaked rags, other fireworks, candles or cigarettes to light fireworks. All of these are either terribly dangerous or really ineffective.

A common mistake is to think that an ordinary cigarette lighter is up to the job. There are two interrelated problems with this. Firstly, you can’t operate a lighter with a gloved hand, but the flame produced is so small that there’s no way you can light a fuse without hot sparks and gas going all over your hand. Without a glove, this means a burnt thumb. Also, these lighters are very susceptible to the wind. All in all, just don’t bother – use one of the methods above.