Tag Archives: Hallowe’en bonfires

Clare County Council and Clare County Fire and Rescue Service are urging members of the public and businesses not to supply any waste material to persons who do not hold a valid waste collection permit. The call comes in advance of the Halloween period, which traditionally has been used by some people to illegally dispose of waste material on bonfires. The uncontrolled burning of waste, particularly in bonfires, is illegal and releases toxic pollutants into the air, which are known to be damaging to our health and environment. Burning of waste in this manner is illegal under the Air Pollution Act, 1987, and the Waste Management Acts, 1996-2008. Allowing unpermitted waste collectors to remove waste is an offence and could incur a fine of up to €5,000. Bonfires are often built close to houses and other property, presenting risks to personal safety and property. Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Halloween is one the …

It cost an estimated €11,500 for Clare Fire Service to attend 10 bonfire incidents over Hallowe’en. Neverthless, the chief fire officer for Clare, Adrian Kelly said compliance across the county was “generally excellent”. The fire service was called to the 10 incidents between Thursday and Saturday last. Mr Kelly has expressed his gratitude to people for heeding the fire service’s appeal not to use the Halloween period to illegally dispose of waste material on bonfires. “Halloween is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the Fire Service and responding to bonfire call outs creates a strain on existing resources. Most of the bonfires we attended over the weekend were constructed close to houses and other property, which consequently presented risks to personal safety and property.”

With the Hallowe’en season upon us. Clare County Council is urging members of the public not to supply any waste material to persons who do not hold a valid waste collection permit. Clare County Fire and Rescue Service says that substantial costs are incurred each Halloween in responding to bonfire-related incidents, as well as cleaning up after bonfires have taken place. In 2013, the Fire Service attended seven bonfires at a cost of €8,800. Meanwhile, the environment section of Clare County Council has warned that uncontrolled burning of waste, particularly in bonfires, is illegal under the Air Pollution Act, 1987, and the Waste Management Act, 1996, as amended. It said the burning of waste also releases toxic pollutants into the air which are known to be damaging to public health and the environment. “I am appealing to the public to work with the staff of Clare County Council and Clare Fire and Rescue Service during the forthcoming Halloween festivities and …