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Over the course of Saturday evening into the early hours of Sunday, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) managed a significant number of emergency situations. From 6 pm until 2 am, they handled 303 emergency calls and attended to 151 operational incidents. A substantial portion of these calls—54 in total—were connected to bonfires, which were lit in various locations across Northern Ireland as part of the traditional lead-up to the annual Twelfth of July parades organized by the Orange Order.
One challenging moment occurred in Cookstown, County Tyrone, when firefighters were forced to retreat from a bonfire due to a hostile crowd, according to NIFRS. Elsewhere, in Greenisland near Carrickfergus, fire crews confronted a serious blaze involving a row of terraced houses, two oil tanks, and a shed. The fire completely destroyed two homes and caused damage to two additional properties. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of this incident.
In Belfast, firefighters were active on Milner Street responding to a garage fire that had spread from a nearby bonfire. Other emergencies throughout the night included accidental house fires in Antrim and Coleraine, along with an articulated lorry fire in Newry. NIFRS Area Commander Dermot Rooney urged the public to remain cautious as more bonfires are anticipated in the following days. He stated, “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.” He also reminded people to adhere to countryside fire safety measures due to the ongoing warm and dry weather.
The tradition of lighting bonfires each year is linked to the Orange Order’s commemorative parades held around July 12th, marking the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. This year, however, the marches are scheduled for Monday, 13 July, because the 12th falls on a Sunday, which the Orange Order traditionally observes as a day of rest. Although many communities chose to light their bonfires on Saturday evening, some plan to ignite theirs on Sunday, ahead of the parades
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