| The joint initiative between Tayside Fire Brigade, Tayside Police and Dundee City Council to crack down on the city-wide problem of unauthorised bonfires was credited with the reduction.
This year the Brigade were called to 136 bonfires, compared to 180 last year — a reduction of 24%.
Many more of the bonfires were being supervised by an adult. Last year 20% of the bonfires had an adult present. This year the figure was 50%.
The Rapid Response Team initiative removed materials from Dundee’s streets that could potentially be used for a fire.
Fire Brigade community safety officer Frank Wallace today said the scheme, and a more responsible attitude from the public, had resulted in the Brigade’s quietest Bonfire Night for years.
He said, “The reduction of 44 bonfires being set compared to last year is not a huge difference for a big city like Dundee.
“But I think a key difference is that there were adults supervising the bonfires properly in many situations. When we encountered fires being properly supervised we did not dismantle them.
“We realise setting bonfires is part of British culture, and the last thing the scheme is trying to do is to stop people having fun — if they were being properly controlled.
“But we did put out bonfires immediately which were not being properly supervised.
“And I’m pleased to report that this year there was no trouble when we did put the fires out, which is always a worry for us on Bonfire Night.
“In the bonfires we attended there were no hazardous materials being burnt, although there may have been dangerous materials in some of the bonfires that were removed.
“The community wardens also really helped this year, monitoring their area and being in constant touch with control.”
Mr Wallace said the scheme would be run again next year. |
