Bonfire safety message getting through, says fire brigade

For the third year running the number of small deliberate fires attended by fire crews in Rotherham between November 4 and 6 dropped—from ten last year and 20 in 2009.

The period is traditionally associated with an increase in antisocial behaviour-related incidents, but figures show there were only two nuisance fires in Rotherham on November 5, compared to six in 2010 and nine in 2009.

Across the county there were 17 antisocial behaviour fires on November 5, compared to 25 in 2010 and 45 in 2009.

Between November 4 and 6, fire crews were called out to 46 antisocial behaviour fires in South Yorkshire, compared to 59 over the same period last year and 77 in 2009.

Diane Malpass, station manager in community safety, said: “Our teams worked extremely hard in the run up to the bonfire period and on the bonfire weekend itself to spread the fire safety message, so we are very pleased that the number of call-outs remained low.

“Our prevention work this year involved a number of partner organisations, as well as firework retailers and supermarkets, and these figures show that our collective efforts have made a real difference.”

A number of retailers across the county voluntarily agreed not to sell matches and lighters to under-18s this year, as part of the Strike It Out campaign.

The campaign, run in partnership with South Yorkshire Police, produced 40,000 bonfire safety advice leaflets  for firework retailers to give to their customers.

Fire service officers were also part of street teams who had a visible presence in a number of areas over the bonfire weekend, offering fire safety advice and looking out for potential arson hotspots.

More bonfire pictures, click here.