Hit squad puts safety first during fireworks season
A campaign has been launched to put safety first during the fireworks season.
South Lanarkshire Council works closely with the fire service and partner agencies to raise awareness of the risks and dangers associated with bonfires and fireworks.
Now a dedicated bonfire ‘hit squad’ has been assigned to each of the four areas that make up South Lanarkshire to safely dismantle and remove unauthorised fires built on council land.
This year they will be assisted by the community wardens’ new mobile CCTV van which will be out and about helping spot potentially dangerous bonfires early enough to have them removed.
South Lanarkshire Council Anti Social Behaviour Manager Alison Moore said: “This initiative is a great example of how effective partnership working can be in achieving real results in our communities.”
Around bonfire night firefighters attend an average of 40 per cent more incidents than during the rest of October and November.
On November 5 itself the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attends four times as many call outs as on any other night taking them away from other incidents with potentially tragic consequences.
SFRS Area Manager Alan Fairbairn, the senior officer for South Lanarkshire, said: “Everyone has their part to play in protecting our communities and preventing tragedy.
“If someone is trapped in a house fire or after a collision on the roads it’s vital firefighters can get to them as quickly as possible, so we want the public to help ensure they aren’t tied- up at needless incidents.”