Dublin Fire Brigade have been live-tweeting reports of their work throughout the evening on the @DubFireBrigade twitter account, and it's offering a good insight into the intense pressure the service faces on Halloween night.
Crews were taking a large volume of coals from as early as 4.30 this afternoon and have already faced a number of serious incidents, including a bus on fire, a house fire and several large bonfires across the city.
Of the 260 + calls so far, we've had 4 house fires, 8 large fires, 2 industrial fires, 3 truck and 1 bus fire. #busy #DubSafeHalloween
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
Several bonfires already underway. Calls in the Control Centre are heating up..
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
Bonfires across the city in almost every area, most are safe, crews are being kept very busy extinguishing dangerous fires
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
There has been a house fire in Tyrellstown, safely resolved
3 units are on the way to a house fire in Tyrrelstown, incident developing #DubSafeHalloween
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
Thankfully, all persons safe at Tyrrelstown, crews damping down the fire which started in the kitchen
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
As you would expect, there have been bonfires across the city. The most notable seems to be a major fire on the Feltrim road that required three unites to battle the blaze
3 units are at a major bonfire on the Feltrim road, near the quarry, crews working hard to put it out, lots of smoke in the area.
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
A bus was on fire on the N2 but was dealt with no injuries
A bus was on fire on the N2 o/s Finglas, a crew from Phibsborough have extinguished the fire and @gardainfo have assisted the 20 pax home
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
And an all weather pitch has gone on fire in Dublin 10
An all weather football pitch is alight in Dublin 10, an appliance from Dolphin's Barn in attendance
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
Builders waste and rubbish on fire at Feltrim, incident now closed. pic.twitter.com/eDjRJlhodu
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 31, 2014
Halloween is one of the busiest for the fire and emergency services, and last year there were 75 admissions to Crumlin children's hospital alone.
Speaking on Today FM, head of the Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association, John Kidd, said:
“Please supervise your children. Please watch out for the old people in our society.
“It’s an unpleasant night, it’s actually the worst night to be on duty. For a fire fight or an ambulance person in Dublin, or even a member of An Garda Síochána, it’s not a pleasant night, it’s a tough night.”
