Another busy Halloween on the Northside

Béibhinn Thorsch

Dublin Fire Brigade recorded its busiest night this year on Halloween, with most callouts responding to bonfires and other activity associated with the festivities.

From 4pm on the evening of October 31 to 6am the following morning, Dublin Fire Brigade received 229 fire calls, of which 156 were Halloween related. There were 298 ambulance request calls. This is a small decrease from last year on calls to both services and continues the downward trend over the Halloween period in recent years.

A number of anti-social incidents occurred across the city, with attacks on fire crews and projectiles, including fireworks, being used to intimidate emergency responders. No reports of injuries to members of the public associated with bonfires or fireworks were reported to Dublin Fire Brigade, and none of their crews was injured.

Sinn Féin TD Denise Mitchell praised the efforts of Dublin Fire Brigade but said the anti-social activity they encountered in several areas was “simply unacceptable”.

“To hear reports of barricades blocking streets and firefighters being pelted with rocks is appalling,” Deputy Mitchell said.

In the period leading up to Halloween, Dublin City Council had asked the public to report any stockpiling of bonfire materials and warned it would carry out raids.

According to Simon Brock of Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Services, this helped prevent the risk of serious injury to youngsters and damage caused by bonfires to the environment, parks, green spaces and property in the city.

On Halloween night, Dublin Fire Brigade tweeted updates from some of the locations they were sent out to, including a warehouse blaze in Santry and two cars on fire in Darndale.

A number of organised events were held for Halloween. They included the ‘Finglas Fight Night’, which featured street entertainment, a magic show, carnival stalls and fairground attractions. The night concluded with a fantastic fireworks display.

In neighbouring Ballymun, the Otherworld Festival took place, with the Dublin Circus Company facilitating circus skills workshops with local youth projects and community groups.