11th Night Bonfire Alert

As the traditional '11th Night' Bonfires loom, there has been a call for 'Safety First'.

A senior fire officer at the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is this week urging people to 'Think Safety First' when building bonfires, and has also underlined a recent reminder not to burn tyres.

Ballymena District Commander Gary Davison said burning tyres gave off a cocktail of dangerous gases and some of the material could even be absorbed into the ground.

Speaking last month, he said: "We carried an exercise to show what can happen when a tyre is burned - that gases are given off and the different particles contained in the smoke.

"First of all we have styrene which is a carcinogen and we've got butadiene which is also a carcinogen.

"Then there's benzine, lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, hydrogen sulphide and zinc - and that's just some of the hazardous materials."

Mr Davison said many people were unaware there was legislation regarding the disposal of tyres.

Now, there's a new appeal to the public to follow safety advice when at bonfires.

Commenting that NIFRS is not out to "spoil anyone's fun" but is there to protect the community from the dangers of fire, Peter Craig, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Development, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) explained: "We are here to protect life and property and not to spoil anyone's enjoyment.

"Every year fire crews across Northern Ireland attend bonfires which are out of control and require an emergency response.

"If bonfires are not built as safely as they possibly can be and properly supervised they can easily get out of control endangering both life and property.

"If we are called to a bonfire it's because somebody in that area is worried or concerned about the bonfire.

"NIFRS will not put out the fire but will take the necessary actions to protect life and property," he said, advising that, when building bonfires, communities should site the bonfire well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs.

For example, they should allow a ratio of 1:5, i.e. the distance from the bonfire to the nearest property should be five times the height of the bonfire and also to never build the stack so that it is stable and will not collapse and also - never build a hut or den inside the bonfire.

The officer also noted the need to have responsible adults looking after lighting the bonfire and before lighting the fire check that no children or pets are hiding inside it as well as not using flammable liquids (petrol or paraffin) to light the fire - use domestic firelighters, if necessary.

Finally, keep to hand buckets of water, a garden hose or a fire extinguisher ready and if there's any sign of danger or in the event of an emergency ring Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service on 999 for assistance.

(BMcC)