Halloween festivities have created a very busy evening for emergency services with Dublin Fire Brigade responding to an estimated 250 call-outs since midday.
Fire crews in the west have attended three bonfires that were in danger of burning out of control while in Munster fire crews attended four bonfires across the region in Limerick city, Co Tipperary and Waterford city.
Our Kilbarrack fire eng was at this bonfire too close to a building in #Malahide meanwhile Balbriggan are on the way to Lusk #DFBLive pic.twitter.com/XBU3KEEJIo
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2016
Dublin Fire Brigade said eggs were thrown at one of their vehicles over the course of yesterday evening.
Some chicken decided it would be great craic to egg one of our appliances. It was the same truck that had its window smashed last week. pic.twitter.com/OIv3TNW7Yq
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 30, 2016
A window was broken in the same vehicle last week.
Chief Fire Officer Pat Fleming said one of the most serious bonfires occurred when stockpiled material was set alight.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Fleming said that although bonfires and fireworks are illegal people will still attend events and potentially put themselves in harm's way.
In relation to bonfires he said that onlookers are exposed to toxic fumes, "when firefighters go into areas like that they're wearing breathing apparatus. You don't know what's actually in a bonfire. They're may be aerosol cans, they're may be gas cylinders which can explode."
He also warned that illegal fireworks do not come with the same safety requirements as ones used by professionals and have the potential to self-detonate, causing serious hand or facial injuries.
Mr Fleming said that the reality is that some people may end up in an emergency departmentstonight and "that’s something we want to try and avoid".
He also urged people who may attend a bonfire to always stand well back from the blaze and cautioned that some Halloween costumes can be highly flammable.
"If you notice somebody, that their clothes are on fire then stop, drop and roll is the best method of putting that fire out".
Our map is now live, we'll up date as we progress through the night. Some incidents may be excluded. #DFBLivehttps://t.co/NmGEtPYVXJ pic.twitter.com/uNEaeAfwlB
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2016
A crew from Dolphin's Barn at a bonfire earlier in Tallaght. Always keep clear of a bonfire, you just don't know whats in them #DFBLive pic.twitter.com/0VxkAML1oU
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2016
