Eleventh Night: "significant" rise in emergency call-outs linked to bonfires
Last updated 12th Jul 2021
Northern Ireland's firefighters tackled a "significant increase" in emergency calls to bonfire-related incidents this year, it emerged today (Monday).
More than 230 Eleventh Night bonfires were lit over the weekend as well as a number in the early hours including the contentious Adam Street pyre in Tiger's Bay, north Belfast.
This had been the subject of legal action for its removal but it passed off without incident.
While the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said it was "exceptionally busy'' over the weekend - as they attended a total of 378 calls - it also confirmed there were no attacks on fire service personnel.
The NIFRS said firefighters had been required to take direct action to protect properties from heat caused by bonfires.
A spokesman said: "Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service has dealt with a significant increase in emergency calls and mobilisations to bonfire related incidents over July 9, 10 and 11 July.''
Between 6pm on Friday night and 2am on Saturday morning the service received 54 calls and was sent to 40 incidents, including seven bonfire-related incidents.
Between 6pm on Saturday night and 2am on Sunday morning it received 171 calls and was sent to 99 incidents, including 34 bonfire-related incidents.
The same figures for 6pm on Sunday to 2am on Monday were 153 calls, 150 mobilisations of which 40 were bonfire-related.
This means that over the weekend there were a total of 378 calls and 244 mobilisations, 81 dealing with bonfire incidents.
A NIFRS spokesperson said: Over the three nights this represents a significant increase in bonfire related incidents compared to 2020 when 24 bonfire related incidents occurred from 6pm to 1am on the night of July 11/12.
"The service was exceptionally busy on each of the three nights, with direct intervention required by NIFRS to protect properties from radiated heat, embers, etc. from the bonfires.
"Despite the increased demand of bonfire related incidents, NIFRS maintained emergency response cover across Northern Ireland through the use of contingency planning measures, enabling attendance to a range of operational incidents including property fires and other emergency incidents.
"NIFRS can confirm there were no attacks on fire service personnel or appliances at any bonfire related incidents.''