The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews responded to approximately 359 bonfires across the country between 3.30pm and 11.30pm yesterday (November 5).
Operations Control firefighters handled 882 calls from members of the public. There were also several attacks on crews, but no firefighters were seriously injured.
SFRS had appealed to the public to choose to attend organised events rather than do-it-yourself fireworks displays or illegal bonfires.
Assistant Chief Officer John Dickie is the SFRS Director of Response and Resilience.
He said: “Bonfire Night is our busiest night of the year by far, and indeed it tops off one of our busiest four-week periods in the year.
“In addition to attending the numerous deliberate fires and bonfires, our firefighters continued to respond to the full range of emergencies we face day-to-day.
“Our frontline crews and Operations Control personnel and support staff have shown extreme dedication over this period and I would like to pay tribute to their professionalism, skill and hard work which enabled them to help protect communities.
“In addition, I must thank our partners and indeed communities across Scotland for their assistance and support.”
As well as attending an overall estimated total of 665 incidents over the course of the night, firefighters were also attacked a reported six times during the Bonfire Night time period.
ACO Dickie added: “Any number of attacks on emergency service responders is completely unacceptable.
“This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues including the police when they have to escort us at the scene.
“We would like to thank our partners and the clear majority of the law-abiding public for their support and we hope that they had a safe and enjoyable bonfire night.”
In Edinburgh, two men were arrested last night following an incident involving fireworks being aimed at police. The men were arrested for providing fireworks to youths. Their van was seized and they will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had urged people to attend organised Bonfire events on 5 November.
Private firework displays and illegal bonfires pose a serious risk to the safety of the communities across Scotland.
And SFRS, alongside the Scottish Government, is making a final appeal to members of the public to attend an organised firework display and help curb illegal behaviour such as the construction of illegal bonfires.
Speaking on the run up to Bonfire Night Assistant Chief Officer Ross Haggart, the SFRS Director of Prevention and Protection, said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue service can be up to four times busier than usual on November 5.
“There are many official Bonfire events this year in Scotland and attending one of these can help ensure our resources are not delayed.
“Illegal bonfires needlessly take up our time and put others with genuine emergencies at risk.
“I would urge any member of the public who sees someone starting an illegal bonfire to contact Crimestoppers.
“I would also urge anyone who witnesses the construction of an unlit illegal bonfire to contact their local authority to have it removed.
“Together we can help each other stay safe this bonfire night.”
ACO Haggart was joined in the call by Minister for Community Safety Ash Denham.
Ms Denham also highlighted the distress that fireworks can cause for members of the community as well as animals such as livestock and pets.
Ms Denham said: “Bonfire Night is a chance for families and local communities to come together and enjoy fireworks responsibly. However the noise from fireworks can cause distress to vulnerable members of our communities – older people, those with post-traumatic stress disorder, autism or underlying mental health issues – and to animals.
“I would encourage people to be mindful of this and to attend organised displays where fireworks are set off in a controlled and safe environment.
“Bonfire Night is also one of the busiest nights of the year for our blue-light staff and robust action will be taken against anyone involved in the misuse of fireworks.
“I would urge members of the public to report any criminal or anti-social behaviour to Police Scotland, their local council, or through Crimestoppers.”
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