AS HALLOWEEN approaches parents have been warned of the danger of lighted candles and fireworks, which have ignited Halloween costumes and even children’s hair in previous years.
Commenting that Halloween is the busiest night of the year for fire services, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Michael Finneran, has called for vigilance alongside the traditional Oíche Shamhna celebrations.
He said plastic capes and bin-liners, often used as costumes, were also fire risks. “Parents should only buy Halloween costumes and masks that are labelled as flame-resistant. Young children should be kept well away from bonfires and indeed all naked flames at all times.”
The fire service has warned that homes should be fitted with smoke alarms all year round, which should be checked regularly, to provide life-saving early warning if a fire does occur.
“This is a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home smoke alarms and practise home escape plans,” said the Minister.
“Revellers” enjoying the night ought to be mindful that emergency services in Dublin were stretched to their limits last Halloween, with Dublin Fire Service called out to some 800 incidents, and the ambulance service receiving about 500 calls, he said.
