Fire chief’s ‘be kind on Bonfire Night’ plea

SCOTLAND’S chief fire officer has issued a plea for Scots to “be kind” and act responsibly this Bonfire Night.

Martin Blunden from Scottish Fire and Rescue said that Bonfire Night will “feel very different” this year as he urged people to follow the coronavirus guidance and avoid gatherings of more than six people from two households to watch private firework displays.

Mr Blunden said that last year fire crews attended 760 incidents, 90% of which were “deliberate incidents or deliberate fires”.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing, he said: “If you thinking of having a private display, be kind.

“Think about those with sensory impairments or with neurological differences such as autism. Think about older people, think about those with pets and those people who may be affected by your display.”

Mr Blunden added:

“It’s very important that we do everything to reduce the strain on the emergency services during this time to make sure that we’re available for other emergencies as they occur.

“The consequences of accidents involving fireworks are often lifechanging and it’s often in the private displays where we see these sort of things happening.”