Halloween ‘nightmare’ looms as Dublin Council warns against bonfire chaos
Dublin City Council has warned that Halloween is meant to be “spooky” but “not a nightmare” as Dublin Fire Brigade brace themselves for their busiest time of year.
As a holiday that often stretches emergency services, the dangerous impact of bonfires and fireworks is felt across Dublin every October 31. Bonfires are illegal without the express consent of the Council and without proper oversight there’s a danger of the public inhaling fumes from nasty materials like car tyres, gas cylinders, aerosol cans, oils, plastics and household rubbish.
Firefighters and paramedics responded to hundreds of 999 and 112 calls last Halloween, with an interactive map highlighting just how much these issues are felt across the entire city . The grass burned by bonfires also contains sharp and nasty debris that younger children and animals can injure themselves on.
Fireworks too are illegal without a license in the Republic of Ireland and have led to multiple horrendous injuries, amputations, and facial disfigurements over the years. Without any recognizable safety marks, fireworks can often ignite prematurely and lead to serious trauma.
While the Council has urged everyone to stay far clear of any bonfires or fireworks, they do understand the need “to be realistic” and that some people will inevitably find themselves in dangerous situations. If someone is near a bonfire, they are advised that, if they can feel the heat, then they are too close.
If their clothes catch fire, they should remember the long-standing advice to “stop, drop, and roll.” As an inherently destructive structure, bonfires that are built too high can easily collapse and wreak havoc in ways nobody is prepared for.
The Council have warned against jumping through or over any bonfires and to not fall victim to peer pressure. Consuming drugs or alcohol near a bonfire also increases the risk of injury.
In order to try and stamp out bonfires before they are lit this Halloween , the Council has opened a special hotline urging citizens to report any rubbish piles they find to help stop large illegal bonfires on October 31.
Those wishing to report ‘bonfire materials’ online can do so on Dublin City Council ’s Citizen Hub: citizenhub.dublincity.ie or by calling 222 2222 during office hours or 679 6186 outside office hours.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme