Published: Wednesday, 12th November, 2008 12:30
131 call outs on 'quiet' bonfire night
By Jamie MacDonald
Comments (1)
Print Article
Young revellers enjoyed organised bonfire displays – like this one at the Ochilview in Fishcross.
Pic by: David Robertson
GUY FAWKES night passed off without too many ‘fireworks’ in Clackmannanshire – and the operation to ensure public safety has been hailed a success.
Last Wednesday the county was lit up with bonfires and fireworks and people, in the main, followed advice to behave sensibly with the explosives.
The Advertiser joined Central Scotland Police and met the local fire brigade as they patrolled the area – and got an insight into how both organisations work together and with local authorities on one of the busiest nights of the year.
There was a 22 per cent drop in calls made to the fire brigade in Clackmannanshire compared to last year (from 169 to 131) over the week up to and including Bonfire Night but on hearing the constant communication between the brigade’s control room in Maddiston and the engines across Forth Valley it was hard to believe they could have been any busier in previous years.
During the evening, David Fyfe, watch commander for Alloa Fire Station’s white watch, told the Advertiser, “We haven’t stopped since we came in tonight – it’s just one bonfire after another. I’ve lost count of how many fires we have been out to.
“Compared to other years it has been pretty good though. I think the work done beforehand with wardens and police out spotting fires has helped a lot.
“There has been no stone-throwing or unsavoury incidents so far.”
As part of Operation Alamo, and in the lead up to Bonfire Night the police, fire brigade and Clackmannanshire’s trading standards visited shops intending to sell fireworks ensuring they were aware of their legal responsibilities – which includes not selling fireworks to anyone under-18.
As a result, in Forth Valley, two adults have been charged with supplying fireworks to underage youths who have also been charged for setting them off.
Three teenagers have been reported for acting in a culpable and reckless manner with fireworks.
Out on patrol around Clackmannanshire in an unmarked car with Inspector David Johnstone from the police, we stopped as a Roman Candle had been lit and was going off in the road on Devon Road in Alloa.
As we waited for it to go out, the car was pelted with fireworks from what looked like two teenagers. Inspector Johnstone had to drive off on the other side of the road to a safe distance.
It was an incident like this that shows just how easily something potentially deadly could happen, as Inspector Johnstone explained.
“That’s fireworks at their worst. If it went under the car and went off it could have ignited the petrol tank and we would have just exploded.
“It is explosives people are playing with and quite why they want to run about and throw them is beyond me.”
Locals were advised to go to organised bonfire and firework displays but the fire brigade and police were prepared to allow fires where they were in a sensible place and an adult was prepared to take responsibility for it.
In the days leading up to bonfire night Clackmannanshire Council wardens removed six illegal bonfires.
Chief Superintendent Gordon Samson, head of Communities Policing, said, “I am pleased that the operation went well but disappointed that some people still feel the need to behave irresponsibly with fireworks.
“It is just good fortune that nobody was seriously injured.”
As well as enforcing the over-18 only sales of fireworks community wardens and police officers targeted areas where problems have occurred in previous years as well as going into schools to speak to children.
On the night, from calls made to the police and fire brigade, police patrols and community wardens visited the various areas and decided if the fire required to be put out or if it was being safely managed.
They would then report back to base and the fire brigade would be dispatched if needed.
The fires were regularly monitored and in cases where the adult had later left, the fire brigade would be sent out.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Woolies closure leaves 19 jobless