Meath Fire Service issues warning ahead of Halloween

Meath Fire Service is asking local business owners and communities to secure flammable materials to prevent malicious fires in the run up to Halloween. Citizens are advised to try keep items such as pallets, furniture, tyres, contents of skips, even wheelie bins out of sight to help avoid bonfires in your area.

With many large, organised bonfire events throughout the county been cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic, there is a fear that more unregulated events will be held – events that are much more likely to get out of hand.

Dunshaughlin Fire Station Officer Fionnán Blake said: “Meath Fire Service is asking people to avoid these events and in particular unsupervised bonfires. Hidden dangers such as aerosol cans, tyres and gas canisters can explode and cause horrific injuries. Most fires also tend to be built too high, that when lit they become unstable and can collapse without warning.”

Meath County Council has launched a social media campaign to highlight the dangers associated with bonfires and the harm done to the environment. The local authority will also liaise with gardai in relation to the removal of bonfire material, and with residents in order to identify the locations of stockpiled material.

Meath County Council Environmental Officer Bernadine Carry said “In 2019, the Council took down 12 bonfires before they were set alight, this equates to almost 25 tonnes of waste material, costing the taxpayers of Meath thousands of pounds in waste collection and disposal fees. Many of these items were given to the children by adults from garage clearances – couches, plastic patio chairs and children’s play equipment. We are asking local communities not to give any old household items for use in a bonfire. If you have bulky waste this should go to your local recycling centre or to a permitted skip provider.”

Speaking about the use of fireworks Mr. Blake added “Fire crews have seen and dealt with horrific injuries caused over the years by illegal fireworks ranging from loss of limbs to appalling burns. An average of 20 people each year attend hospitals across Ireland for firework-related injuries. Most are minor burns but Ireland has witnessed several life-changing injuries inflicted by black market fireworks.”

“We know that Halloween will be disappointing for so many families this year however no one wants to spend the night in A&E. Stay Safe.”

Meanwhile, a Meath county councillor wants the local authority to launch a social media campaign to discourage people from lighting bonfires on public spaces around the Halloween festival. Fine Gael Cllr Alan Tobin also wants the gardaí involvement to control what he termed “unruly behaviour."

Officials said that the council had in the past worked with the fire service to prevent and discourage activity that may be dangerous and also have an impact on the environment.

They also promised to work with the gardai to promote responsible behaviour and will implement any national campaigns with local targeted messaging on the dangers of bonfires, discouraging them in open spaces and generally promoting responsible Halloween activities, especially in the context of the prevailing public health restrictions.