Kildare Firefighters Used As "Target Practice" With Stones And Fireworks In Recent Times

It comes as calls are set to increase during Halloween

Kildare Fire Service has issued a fire safety notice in advance of Halloween celebrations taking place across this weekend.

On social media, it urged people to "please help keep Kildare’s communities safe" also asking people to dispose of waste correctly and never provide material for a bonfire.

"Together, we can protect our neighbours, local amenities and environment," it concluded.

Kildare County Council has also warned that collecting, storing or supplying waste for a bonfires is illegal, citing dangers such as toxic pollution, road visibility, spread of the fire as well as the time it takes for green spaces to recover as a result.

Fines for lighting bonfires range from €250 to €3,000, according to KCC

Speaking on Kildare Today, Chief Fire Officer with Kildare County Council Niall O' Riordan accepted that bonfires will happen, but asked for people to only attend bonfires organised responsibly:

"Fireworks and bonfires are both illegal in their nature, but we're realistic in the nature that bonfires are happening.

"I would recommend that people only attend organised events, maybe by residents associations or by the clubs or responsible adults, organised and respected events," he added.

O' Riordan also asked people not to use bonfires as an opportunity to dump rubbish, while also emphasising the importance of standing at a safe distance from a bonfire, remarking that "if you feel the heat, then you're too close", with the potential of bonfire elements falling and creating a safety hazard as a result.

With regard to fireworks, he warned of "horror stories" of people sustaining injuries and losing limbs, recommending against their use during the festivities.

As the Halloween period intensifies, O' Riordan described it as "one of the busiest nights of the year".

"I'm not going to guess how many calls we're going to get, but it is one of the busiest nights of the year".

"If you do want to call the Fire Brigade, call 999 or 112, our firefighters will attend.

He admitted that firefighters have been used as "target practice" in recent times, with stones being thrown on some occasions towards themselves and fire engines.

"It's become almost a tradition to target fire officers with stones, so please bear in mind that these people are just doing their jobs, and have families to go home to tomorrow night," he concluded.

The full interview can be heard below: