Calls for action to make Eleventh Night bonfires safer
A bonfire alight in Larne in the early hours of Monday
Political leaders have emphasized the need for increased efforts to ensure that Eleventh Night bonfires in Northern Ireland are conducted safely and within the law.
While the majority of bonfires occurred without incident, a fatality was reported on Friday when a man died after falling from an unlit bonfire in east Belfast. Additionally, in the early hours of Sunday, two homes in Greenisland were destroyed by fire, which the fire service attributed most likely to "accidental ignition due to embers."
On Thursday, a contentious bonfire featuring a replica of a mosque atop it was ignited in Moygashel, County Tyrone, before police could remove the structure.
These fires are traditionally lit annually as part of celebrations in some unionist communities, preceding the Orange Order's Twelfth of July parades.
'Own goal for unionism'
Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows acknowledged that while most bonfires are safe and lawful, incidents that are not represent "an own goal for unionism" and cause damage to the community.
"It's an own goal for unionism when they're not and it does damage to our community when they're not."
Regarding the Greenisland incident, Burrows described the destruction of homes as "outrageous" and stated,
"It shouldn't have happened, it cannot happen again."
Burrows suggested that instead of establishing a new quango to regulate bonfires, existing mechanisms should be better utilized. He pointed to police community support partnerships as an example, stating they should be involved in mapping bonfire locations.
"For example you've got police community support partnerships right across the country they should be mapping out where these bonfires are going to be,"
He further emphasized the importance of early engagement between bonfire builders and agencies such as the police and fire service.
"You need early engagement with the police and the fire service and other agencies with the bonfire builders.
You need enforcement if there is an issue in which there is a bonfire which, because of its size and its location, is going to be a danger.
You need intervention if there's going to be, for example, something on that bonfire that is breaking the law.
So those rules need enforced."
In Belfast, effigies of Irish language rapper Kneecap were attached to a bonfire on Donegall Pass.
Stuart Dickson of the Alliance Party stated that reflection alone is insufficient and that concrete action is necessary.
"That action needs to be in the form of leadership and that leadership by and large for bonfires on the 11th night has to come from unionist politicians,"
Dickson also expressed skepticism about the need for a new regulatory body akin to the Parades Commission, suggesting that local authorities could manage bonfire regulation in partnership with the fire service.
"I think it's something that local authorities could easily regulate in conjunction with the fire service,"
"It's not genius work, it's looking at the location, it's looking at the materials and it's saying that's a safe place and that's reasonable and safe height.
That's something that environmental health staff and the fire service could do together."
Mervyn Gibson, grand secretary of the Orange Order, also highlighted the necessity of enhancing safety for all participants and observers, acknowledging that measures can be implemented.
"I think it should be a case for making a bonfire as far away from houses and everywhere else as possible,"
"In some cases, it's just not possible. You have to think about the size of the bonfire and how it is going to impact property."
Gibson recognized the challenges authorities face in enforcing regulations.
"I think when people hear that their culture is going to be policed in a way that could diminish it, then I think that's where the difficulty comes in,"
In Larne, the Craigyhill bonfire attracted crowds from across Northern Ireland.
The fire service reported receiving 303 emergency calls and responding to 151 operational incidents between 18:00 BST on Saturday and 02:00 on Sunday, 54 of which were related to bonfires.
Precautionary measures were taken to protect homes and street lights near bonfires across Northern Ireland, including boarding and wrapping.
For example, homes located just meters from a bonfire adjacent to a playground in east Belfast had protective measures applied. The street lights encircling part of the pyre at Pitt Park were also safeguarded.
Approximately 40 homes near the Craigyhill bonfire in Larne were boarded up. Organizers reported that the bonfire reached a height of 120 meters.
The playground and sports court nearby were shielded from fire and heat using protective hoarding.
In Bangor, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive provided boarding to protect the windows of 101 residences located close to a bonfire at Churchill Park.
- Anti-immigration messages placed on bonfires
- Great-grandfather says 'everything is gone' after house fire
- Man dies after falling from east Belfast bonfire
