Fire service handled 650 calls on Bonfire Night

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Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) received around 650 calls on Bonfire Night compared to 438 last year and fire-fighters attended 474 incidents, compared to 334 last year. However, firework related incidents fell.

Despite it being busier than last year, GMFRS says the evening passed relatively safely with just a handful of injuries and no major incidents.

Director of Prevention and Protection, Peter O’Reilly, said: “It has been a busy firework and bonfire period in comparison to last year as we anticipated, with Bonfire Night falling on a Saturday and with the weather conditions staying clear and dry.

“Whilst, compared to last year, the overall number of incidents are up, the number of firework related incidents GMFRS was called to reduced, falling from 15 to nine."

The GMFRS results in relation to fireworks were mirrored by those from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - who saw a 6 per cent drop in the number of firework related incidents across Greater Manchester on the 5 November.

The two emergency services have been working together in the run up to Bonfire Night to make communities as safe as possible through a campaign called Treacle, which also involves a range of other partners, including local councils and the Passenger Transport Authority.

Chief Superintendent Jon Rush the Treacle Partnership lead for GMP said: “GMP has worked with GM Fire and Rescue Service and local authority partners throughout the autumn period, preparing our approach to Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night.

“This activity, which has included inputs to schools and visits to premises selling fireworks, has culminated in over 300 additional GMP staff being dedicated to preventing anti-social behaviour and supporting the community in enjoying Bonfire Night.”

On Saturday night fire crews across Greater Manchester dealt with a range of emergencies. Around 70 per cent of calls to the control room were bonfire related but there were also a number of commercial fires, 10 property fires and three road traffic collisions that required the attendance of multiple appliances.

Between 5.30pm and midnight fire control operators answered around 490 calls but although it was busy, it passed without major incident.

Peter O’Reilly, added: “Although we still have a few days to go until the general sale of fireworks stops, I think, overall, the people of Greater Manchester should be praised for their sensible approach to the bonfire period.”