Northern Ireland fire service received over 300 calls on Eleventh Night

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) handled a significant surge in emergency calls, receiving 303 during the traditional Eleventh Night celebrations. Bonfires were lit across unionist areas in advance of the 12th of July Orange Order parades, leading to a high operational tempo for firefighters.

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Operational activity was consistently high across the 11th night with an increase in demand for emergency response.

In one alarming incident in the Cookstown area, firefighters were compelled to withdraw from a scene due to a hostile crowd. Meanwhile, in Belfast, the fire service tackled a blaze that had spread to a garage on Milner Street. Across the region, firefighters attended 151 operational incidents, with 54 directly related to bonfires.

NIFRS Area Commander Dermot Rooney highlighted the consistently high operational activity and increased demand for emergency response throughout the night. He noted a severe incident in Greenisland, Carrickfergus, where a fire engulfed terraced houses, two oil tanks, and a shed. Two homes were completely destroyed, with damage extending to two further properties. The cause of this fire is currently under investigation.

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Thank you to our Firefighters, Regional Control Centre personnel and Support employees for their professionalism and dedication in ensuring we continued to deliver an effective emergency response during this demanding operational period.

Firefighters also responded to other incidents, including accidental house fires in Antrim and Coleraine, and an articulated lorry fire in Newry. Commander Rooney extended his gratitude to the NIFRS personnel for their professionalism and dedication during this demanding period. He affirmed the service's readiness for further bonfires and all types of emergencies, urging the public to prioritize safety and make responsible choices over the bank holiday weekend. With warm, dry weather persisting, advice was also issued regarding countryside fire safety.

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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. With warm, dry weather continuing, we also ask anyone spending time outdoors to follow our countryside fire safety advice.