Eleventh Night Bonfires Prompt Extensive Fire Service Response
A large bonfire was lit in Portadown on Friday night as part of the Twelfth of July celebrations.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) received 303 emergency calls and attended 151 operational incidents between 18:00 BST on Saturday and 02:00 on Sunday.
Several bonfires across Northern Ireland were ignited ahead of the Orange Order's Twelfth of July parades.
Of the emergency calls, 54 were related to bonfires. In Cookstown, County Tyrone, firefighters had to withdraw from a bonfire due to a "hostile crowd," according to NIFRS.
In a separate incident in Greenisland, Carrickfergus, the fire service responded to a fire involving a row of terraced houses, two oil tanks, and a shed. Two homes were completely destroyed, with damage sustained to two additional properties. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
Firefighters also hosed down properties in Roden Street, Belfast, to reduce the risk of fire starting.
On Milner Street in Belfast, firefighters tackled a garage fire caused by fire spreading from a nearby bonfire.
Other incidents attended by firefighters during the night included accidental house fires in Antrim and Coleraine, as well as an articulated lorry fire in Newry.
"With further bonfires planned, we are prepared and ready to respond to all types of emergencies. We would encourage everyone to stay safe and make responsible choices throughout the remainder of the bank holiday weekend," said NIFRS Area Commander Dermot Rooney.
"With warm, dry weather continuing, we also ask anyone spending time outdoors to follow our countryside fire safety advice."
Context and Controversies Surrounding Bonfires
Bonfires are lit annually in some unionist areas as part of the Twelfth of July celebrations. While most events occur without incident, some bonfires have been contentious.
On Friday night, a man died after falling from an unlit bonfire in east Belfast.
On Saturday, anti-immigration slogans and images were prominently displayed at several bonfire sites across Belfast.
A bonfire in County Tyrone drew widespread condemnation for featuring a replica mosque placed on top, which was set alight prematurely on Thursday before police could remove it.
Bonfires are traditionally lit ahead of the Orange Order's parades, which commemorate the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. These parades are usually held on 12 July.
This year, however, the marches are scheduled for Monday, 13 July, because 12 July falls on a Sunday, which the Orange Order observes as a religious day of rest.
Consequently, while many communities chose to light their bonfires on Saturday, 11 July, others plan to light theirs on Sunday, the eve of the parades.
- Anti-immigration messages placed on bonfires
- Man dies after falling from east Belfast bonfire
- Why are bonfires lit over the Twelfth?
- Twelfth of July: What's happening, where and when?
