Firecracker shop fire safety comes down to four things:
- A valid licence.
- A non-flammable shed placed at the required distances.
- No naked flames or loose wiring near the stock.
- Water, sand, an ABC fire extinguisher and a fire blanket at every shop.
Fireworks burn very fast once they catch. The goal is to stop a fire from starting, and to stop it spreading to the next shop.
[Every Diwali season, our team visits cracker stalls across Delhi-NCR, including Sadar Bazaar. This checklist is based on what we see there.]
This guide is for people who run temporary Diwali stalls and permanent cracker shops. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules change by state and by year, so always follow your licence conditions and the latest orders from your district.
This guide covers shops only. For safety while lighting diyas and crackers at home, read our Diwali fire safety tips for homes. If you manage a residential building, read our Diwali fire safety checklist for housing societies.
Which Rules Apply to Firecracker Shops in India?
The sale of fireworks in India is governed by the Explosives Act, 1884 and the Explosives Rules, 2008. A temporary Diwali shop needs a temporary licence under Rule 84, usually issued by the District Magistrate or the licensing authority for the area. In Delhi, the Licensing Unit of Delhi Police, under the Commissioner of Police, issues temporary licences. The site is also checked for fire safety, including access for fire tenders.
PESO, the national explosives regulator, has published a timeline for temporary fireworks licences:
- Applications in Form LE-5 should reach the authority at least 60 days before Diwali.
- The licence period for a temporary shop is up to 30 days before Diwali.
For Diwali on 8 November 2026, the 60-day mark fell on 9 September 2026. Some districts announce their own deadlines, so check with your licensing office. If you do not have a licence, do not stock or sell crackers.
Only sell fireworks made by manufacturers that PESO has approved. You can check the list of authorised fireworks on the PESO website.
In Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court also decides each year whether green crackers can be sold, and for how many days. Check this year’s order before you stock or sell.
How Should a Temporary Cracker Shop Be Laid Out?
District guidelines under the Explosives Rules, 2008 commonly set the conditions below for temporary sheds. For an example, see Punjab’s guidelines for District Magistrates under the Explosives Rules, 2008. Your own licence may add more.
| Condition | What it means |
| Shed material | Non-flammable, closed and secured so outsiders cannot reach the stock |
| Gap between sheds | At least 3 metres between sheds |
| Distance from protected works | At least 50 metres from protected works such as houses, shops and public roads |
| Facing | Sheds must not face each other |
| Lighting | No oil lamps, gas lamps or naked lights in or near the shed |
| Electric lights | Fixed to the wall or ceiling, not hanging on a flexible wire |
| Switches | Fixed rigidly to the wall, with a master switch for each row |
| Display | No bursting or display of fireworks within 50 metres of a shed |
| Cluster size | Not more than 50 shops in one cluster |
Fairy lights and decorative light strings hang on flexible wire, so keep them off the shed.
Some states add further rules. Punjab’s guidelines, for example, also require:
- A no-smoking zone, with no cigarettes, lighters or matchboxes.
- No agarbatti or dhoop in the area or the shops.
- Cotton clothes for sales staff, and staff aged 18 or above.
- Parking at least 15 metres away, and any generator at least 15 metres away with its cable laid underground in a conduit.
What Fire Safety Equipment Should a Cracker Shop Keep?
District guidelines usually require fire tenders near the cluster, not equipment at each shop. Even so, the first minute of a fire is handled by whoever is at the counter, so it is good practice for every shop to keep its own equipment within reach of the counter.
| Equipment | Why you need it |
| ABC fire extinguisher | Handles burning cardboard, paper and packaging, and electrical faults |
| Water drum and buckets | Cools nearby surfaces and soaks small fires |
| Sand buckets | Smothers small fires on the ground |
| Fire blanket | Smothers a small fire, or wraps a person whose clothes catch |
| First-aid box | For minor burns and cuts |
| No-smoking signs | Keeps lighters, matches and cigarettes away |
Check each extinguisher before the shop opens for the season: the gauge should be in the green zone, and the pin and seal should be intact.
Setting up a stall this week? Get ABC fire extinguishers and fire blankets from Manx Impex. Call +91 11 4987 2937 or WhatsApp us.
Can Water or an Extinguisher Put Out a Firecracker Fire?
Only at the very start. Many fireworks carry their own oxidiser, so stock that is fully alight can keep burning even when air is cut off.
That is why your extinguisher, water and sand have two real jobs. The first is to put out a small fire in packaging or wiring before it reaches the stock. The second is to cool the neighbouring sheds so the fire does not jump. If the stock itself is burning, get everyone out and keep the crowd back.
Daily Fire Safety Routine for Cracker Shops
Before opening
- Check the extinguisher gauge, water drums and sand buckets.
- Look at wires and switches for cuts, loose joints or heat marks.
- Keep the area in front of the shed clear so customers can leave quickly.
While selling
- Do not let anyone test a cracker near the shops.
- Stop customers who are smoking or carrying lit agarbatti.
- Keep stock inside the shed, not in piles outside.
- Do not open or repack boxes at the counter.
At closing
- Count and lock the stock.
- Switch off at the master switch.
- Do one last walk around the shed for smouldering paper or a warm cable.
Godown and Transport Safety
Keep only the quantity your licence allows at the shop. Move stock in covered vehicles, never in open carts or on two-wheelers. In the godown, keep stock away from wiring, switchboards and any heat source, and keep a clear aisle to the door. For more on storage habits, read about how to prevent fires in a warehouse.
Need extinguishers for your godown as well as your stall? Call +91 11 4987 2937.
What Should You Do If a Cracker Shop Catches Fire?
- Shout “Fire” and move customers and staff away from the cluster.
- Switch off the master switch for the row if you can reach it safely.
- Call 101 for the fire service and 112 for emergencies.
- Use water, sand or an extinguisher only on a small fire, and only if your escape route is behind you.
- Cool the neighbouring sheds to stop the fire spreading, without standing in front of the burning shed.
- Keep the crowd back. Bursting crackers can throw sparks and debris a long way.
Permanent Shops in Busy Markets
Permanent shops in busy wholesale markets, such as Sadar Bazaar in Delhi, carry a different risk. They sit inside crowded buildings with shared stairs and old wiring. These shops hold permanent licences with their own conditions, but the same habits help:
- No naked flames.
- No loose extension boards.
- A working extinguisher at the counter.
- A clear path to the exit.
To understand how wiring faults start fires, read about the causes and prevention of electrical fires.
The Verdict: Firecracker Shop Fire Safety in One Line
Firecracker shop fire safety means a valid licence, a non-flammable shed placed at the required distances, no naked flames or loose wiring near the stock, and water, sand, an ABC fire extinguisher and a fire blanket at every shop. Fireworks burn fast, so stop small fires early and stop them spreading to the next shop.
For extinguishers or fire blankets for your stall, call Manx Impex, an ISO 9001:2015 certified fire safety supplier in New Delhi, on +91 11 4987 2937.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does firecracker shop fire safety include?
A valid licence, a non-flammable shed placed at the required distances, no naked flames or loose wiring near the stock, and water, sand, an ABC fire extinguisher and a fire blanket at every shop.
Q2. When should you apply for a temporary cracker shop licence?
PESO’s timeline says applications in Form LE-5 should reach the authority at least 60 days before Diwali. The licence period for a temporary shop is up to 30 days before Diwali. Some districts announce their own deadlines, so check with your licensing office.
Q3. Who issues a temporary cracker shop licence in Delhi?
In Delhi, the Licensing Unit of Delhi Police, under the Commissioner of Police, issues temporary licences under the Explosives Rules, 2008. The site is also checked for fire safety. In Delhi-NCR, check this year’s Supreme Court order before you stock or sell.
Q4. How far apart should temporary cracker shops be?
District guidelines under the Explosives Rules, 2008 commonly require at least 3 metres between sheds, and at least 50 metres from protected works such as houses, shops and public roads. Your own licence may add more.
Q5. Can a cracker shop use hanging bulbs or fairy lights?
No. Guidelines commonly require electric lights to be fixed to the wall or ceiling, not hung on flexible wire. Switches should be fixed rigidly to the wall, with a master switch for each row.
Q6. What fire safety equipment should a cracker shop keep?
An ABC fire extinguisher, a water drum and buckets, sand buckets, a fire blanket, a first-aid box and no-smoking signs, within reach of the counter. District guidelines usually require fire tenders near the cluster, so equipment at each shop is good practice rather than a fixed rule.
Q7. Can water or an extinguisher put out a firecracker fire?
Only at the very start. Many fireworks carry their own oxidiser, so stock that is fully alight can keep burning even when air is cut off. Use water, sand or an extinguisher only on a small fire, cool the neighbouring sheds, and get everyone out if the stock itself is burning.
