GMFRS Warns After 935 Deliberate Fires On Bonfire Night 2026

Key Points

• Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) stated that their firefighters had dealt with 935 cases of arson during the Bonfire Night period.
• This figure was revealed as part of GMFRS’s annual #BangOutOfOrder campaign ahead of Bonfire Night.
• GMFRS made arson a part of the problem of anti-social behavior, pointing out that it poses great problems for the communities and emergency services.
• The organization emphasized that people setting fires or making hoax calls would be fined heavily or even get up to six months imprisonment.
• In Salford, according to the report about Operation Treacle, there were 20 cases in 2025 where firefighters experienced threats or assaults, 18% more than the previous year.
• According to the same Salford report, there were 1,020 cases of anti-social behavior related to fireworks, which is 2% more than in 2024.
• About 200 of 935 arson cases were classified as “primary fires” – those posing a threat to people or property.
• Though being rather significant, the figure of 935 arson cases was a decrease by 20% compared to the previous year.
• There will be increased police patrols, inspections of fireworks sellers and organized displays in Buile Hill Park and Prince’s Park.

Manchester Fire (Manchester Mirror) October 21, 2026 — Firefighters in Greater Manchester attended 935 fires started deliberately during last year’s Bonfire Night period, according to GMFRS, which has issued a renewed warning that anti-social behaviour around the annual celebration can place communities and emergency crews at risk.

As reported by The Bolton News, a GMFRS spokesperson said:

“Last year we attended 935 fires started deliberately during the Bonfire Night period.”

The spokesperson added:

“Anti-social behaviour is #BangOutOfOrder and has serious consequences.”

The warning forms part of the fire service’s annual #BangOutOfOrder campaign, which seeks to reduce deliberate fire-setting, hoax calls and other anti-social behaviour during the Halloween and Bonfire Night season. GMFRS said those responsible for starting fires deliberately or making hoax emergency calls could potentially receive a heavy fine or a prison sentence of up to six months.

Why Has GMFRS Issued a Bonfire Night Warning?

GMFRS issued the warning ahead of this year’s Bonfire Night period to highlight the scale of deliberate fire-setting recorded in 2025 and to discourage behaviour that can divert emergency resources from genuine emergencies. The service said the 935 incidents were fires that crews attended during the Bonfire Night period.

The fire service did not publish a borough-by-borough breakdown in the statement reported by The Bolton News. However, separate reporting by Manchester Evening News said a Salford scrutiny panel report on Operation Treacle identified 935 intentional fires during the October-to-November timeframe, with nearly 200 categorised as primary fires.

Primary fires are those that pose risks to individuals or property, distinguishing them from smaller or less serious incidents. The Salford report also indicated that the 935 total represented a decrease of more than 20% compared with the previous year.

What Did GMFRS Say About Penalties?

GMFRS warned that deliberate fire-setting and hoax calls are not treated as minor matters. As reported by The Bolton News, the service’s spokesperson said: “If you deliberately start a fire or make a hoax call, you could potentially receive a heavy fine or six months in prison.”

The statement forms part of a broader message from Greater Manchester’s emergency services that attacks on emergency workers, false alarms and reckless use of fireworks can have consequences beyond the immediate incident. GMFRS framed the campaign around the message that anti-social behaviour is “Bang Out of Order”.

The campaign is intended to remind residents that emergency call-handling and firefighting resources are finite. A deliberate fire or hoax call can require crews to attend a scene that may later prove unnecessary, while a genuine emergency elsewhere waits for assistance.

How Does Salford’s Experience Compare?

Salford’s experience illustrates the wider pressure faced by emergency services during the autumn period. According to Manchester Evening News, a report presented to a Salford scrutiny panel recorded 20 incidents in 2025 in which fire crews faced verbal threats or physical assaults while carrying out their duties, an increase of 18% on the previous year.

The report also recorded 1,020 fireworks-related anti-social behaviour incidents in Salford, a 2% rise compared with 2024. These figures were considered as part of Operation Treacle, a Greater Manchester-wide initiative intended to manage the seasonal increase in anti-social behaviour around November 5.

Jeanette Staley, Salford Council’s head of community safety, said many people enjoy celebrating Halloween and Bonfire Night and described the occasions as traditions for people across the city and nation. She said it was therefore important to provide safe, organised firework and bonfire events.

Where Were Unauthorised Bonfires Found?

Salford Council identified unauthorised bonfires on council and social housing properties at 18 separate locations last year. Jeanette Staley said the locations were mainly concentrated in Kersal and Broughton, parts of Hulton, and Pendleton Charlestown.

She said the council would carry out targeted work in those areas. Staley also acknowledged that communities can feel a strong connection to bonfires and said, in some circumstances, it may be less troublesome to allow a bonfire to continue provided safety is ensured. She said each situation would be assessed individually.

The council’s approach combines enforcement and prevention. Plans include increased patrols by uniformed and undercover police officers in identified hotspots, inspections of businesses selling fireworks in the weeks before the festivities, and organised public firework displays.

What Events Are Planned in Salford?

Salford Council has scheduled two organised firework displays. According to Manchester Evening News, the first is due to take place at Buile Hill Park on Saturday, October 31, beginning at 4pm, followed by a display at Prince’s Park on Sunday, November 1, also starting at 4pm.

The organised events are intended to offer residents a safer alternative to private or unofficial bonfires and fireworks. The council’s stated aim is to reduce the risks associated with unauthorised fires while still enabling people to mark the seasonal celebrations.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority was contacted for comment regarding GMFRS in connection with the Salford report, Manchester Evening News reported.

What Is the #BangOutOfOrder Campaign?

The #BangOutOfOrder campaign is GMFRS’s annual effort to address anti-social behaviour and deliberate fire-setting around Halloween and Bonfire Night. The campaign uses the hashtag to communicate that such conduct is unacceptable and can result in enforcement action.

GMFRS’s latest warning follows previous campaigns involving partner organisations across Greater Manchester. In 2025, the service said it worked with Greater Manchester Police, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the city-region’s 10 local councils on the Bang Out Of Order campaign, which highlighted the consequences of attacks on emergency workers and other anti-social behaviour.

That earlier campaign reported that deliberate fire-setting rose by more than 5% in the preceding year, with 1,198 cases recorded between September 1 and November 10, 2024, up from 1,137 in 2023.

How Serious Were Previous Bonfire Periods?

The latest 935 figure sits within a longer pattern of seasonal pressure on Greater Manchester’s emergency services. GMFRS previously reported that 1,366 fires were started deliberately during the Bonfire Night period in the year covered by its 2023 campaign material.

Separate reporting by ITV Granada in 2024 said figures provided by the fire service and Greater Manchester Police showed 22 attacks on firefighters between September 1 and November 13 in the preceding year, alongside almost 1,200 deliberately started fires and more than 1,000 hoax calls.

The BBC also reported in 2024 that GMFRS recorded 22 assaults on firefighters between September and November of the previous year, more than 1,100 intentionally ignited fires and 1,017 false alarms during the same period.

Why Do Deliberate Fires Matter?

Deliberate fires can spread quickly, particularly when materials such as rubbish, fencing, sheds, vehicles or dry vegetation are involved. The risk is heightened during the Bonfire Night period, when more people are outdoors, fireworks are widely used and emergency services face increased demand.

For firefighters, the danger is not limited to the fire itself. Manchester Evening News reported that Salford recorded an increase in cases where crews faced verbal threats or physical assaults while responding during busy occasions including Halloween and Bonfire Night.

For residents, the consequences can include damage to homes, community facilities and public land, as well as the risk of injury. GMFRS’s warning emphasises that deliberate fire-setting and hoax calls can have serious consequences for communities and emergency services.

What Should Residents Do?

GMFRS’s public message is straightforward: do not start fires deliberately and do not make hoax emergency calls. The service says such actions could lead to a heavy fine or up to six months in prison.

Residents who witness an emergency are advised to call 999. Greater Manchester’s emergency services have also previously encouraged the public to report anti-social behaviour through Greater Manchester Police’s LiveChat service or by calling 101 in non-emergency situations.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority also directs residents to report deliberate fire-setting anonymously through FireStoppers.

Background of the Development

Bonfire Night, marked on November 5, traditionally brings a seasonal rise in demand for fire and police services across Greater Manchester. GMFRS has repeatedly used the weeks before the period to warn against deliberate fire-setting, fireworks misuse, attacks on emergency workers and hoax calls.

The #BangOutOfOrder campaign has been run with partners including Greater Manchester Police, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the region’s 10 local councils. Its purpose is to combine public safety messaging with enforcement warnings during a period when anti-social behaviour and fire-related incidents historically increase.

The latest disclosure of 935 deliberate fires comes despite a reported fall of more than 20% compared with the previous year in the Salford data. It nonetheless remains a substantial operational burden for fire crews and forms the context for GMFRS’s renewed public warning.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Greater Manchester Residents?

For Greater Manchester residents, the development is likely to mean a visible increase in preventive activity in the run-up to Bonfire Night. In Salford, the council has already indicated that it will use enhanced patrols, fireworks-seller inspections and organised displays to reduce unauthorised bonfires and fireworks-related anti-social behaviour.

Residents living near known hotspots may see more police and community-safety activity, particularly around council and social housing land where unauthorised bonfires were previously recorded. The council’s plan to assess bonfires individually suggests that enforcement may focus on locations where safety risks are greatest.

For households, the practical effect is likely to be a stronger emphasis on attending organised events rather than setting private fires or fireworks in unsuitable locations. GMFRS’s warning also signals that deliberate fire-setting or hoax calls could lead to fines or imprisonment, making responsible behaviour especially important during the Bonfire Night period.