Emergency services on high alert for bonfire night trouble

EMERGENCY services will be on high alert tonight for Cork’s traditional bonfire night celebrations.

An extra fire brigade crew will patrol the city from 7pm as a rapid-response unit for out-of-control fires.

Bonfire night is their busiest night of the year. Last year several crews came under stone and bottle attack as they responded to callouts.

Tonight extra Gardaí will also be on duty and will, where possible, accompany fire crews to incidents.

“We make the point that we don’t want to spoil the fun of bonfire night, but we have to protect life and property,” third fire officer Edward Buckley said.

He pointed to two potentially dangerous incidents last year.

In Glanmire, a bonfire spread to a mains gas pipe, forcing the evacuation of a local school, and on the northside of the city a fire was set close to an electricity pole, threatening the wires.

Fire chiefs are also concerned that the recent good weather and dry spell could add to the problem tonight.

Meanwhile, the city council will spend €30,000 running its own family-friendly and controlled and supervised bonfire celebrations again this year. They attracted some 8,000 people last year. Tonight’s events will take place at:

* Kilmore Park, Knocknaheeny from 6pm to 9pm.

* Pophams Park, Farranree from 4pm to 7pm.

* Glenamoy Park, Mayfield from 5pm-8pm.

* Glen Amenity Park, in Mayfield.

* Lough Mahon Park, Mahon from 6.30pm-9.30pm.

* Glencurrig/Ballincurrig in Douglas.

* Clashduv Park, Togher, from 5.30pm-9.30pm.

They will be attended by community leaders and the city’s park rangers and wardens and will feature family games, karaoke, and bouncing castles.

At the request of residents in Glencurrig/Ballincurrig, the council has erected ‘No Bonfire’ signs in the estates, written to all residents asking that no bonfires be lit on the greens, and told them of the alternative events for children. But the council crews, who have been removing stockpiled bonfire material from public areas in recent weeks, have discovered the materials are now being stockpiled at private homes.