Dublin Fire Brigade responded to 1,620 emergency calls on Halloween night, marking its busiest operational period in 15 years. Greg O’Dwyer described the volume as “extremely high,” noting that the service dealt with 669 ambulance calls and 366 Leinster regional fire calls throughout the night.
Record-Breaking Call Volumes in Dublin
The 1,620 total calls represent the highest number of Halloween incidents reported by the Dublin Fire Brigade in over a decade. Of the 585 calls the Dublin Fire Brigade received, 470 were directly related to Halloween. By midnight on Saturday, the service had processed 1,350 calls, including 558 fire-related incidents—a significant increase from the 320 calls recorded last Halloween. For comparison, Halloween 2024 saw 494 fire calls, which was then considered the busiest in ten years. This year, the service handled 483 Dublin ambulance calls and 338 East Region ambulance calls. Before the peak of the evening, the brigade had already received 347 calls by 8:00 p.m., surpassing the total volume for all of Halloween night last year.
A Perfect Storm for Emergency Services
Greg O’Dwyer attributed the surge in activity to a combination of factors, specifically noting that the holiday fell on a dry, mild Saturday night, which allowed fires to spread more easily.
Disorder and Obstruction of Emergency Crews
Fire crews faced significant challenges beyond the high call volume, including instances where stolen cars and debris were used to barricade roads. Greg O’Dwyer confirmed that while there were no injuries to fire personnel, crews were called to multiple house fires, vehicle blazes, and serious road traffic collisions. In the Cherry Orchard area of Ballyfermot, gardaí were reportedly advised against entering certain sections due to intense disorder, which included cars being set alight and driven dangerously through housing estates. Firefighters from the Tara Street and North Strand stations were among those responding to blazes in the city centre, including a derelict house fire in Coolmine where crews rescued three family pets. Other reported incidents included a children’s train being driven along public roads in Malahide.
In County Kildare, the fire service reported that a firefighter was injured after a crew came under attack by a group throwing stones and rocks. The damage to the fire engine forced the vehicle off the road for repairs during the height of the Halloween rush. In Northern Ireland, the Fire & Rescue Service reported 89 operational incidents between 6:00 p.m. yesterday and 1:00 a.m. this morning, with six instances where fireworks were intentionally directed at crews. Chief Fire Officer Greg O’Dwyer noted that there were no reports of any firework-related injuries to members of the public.
Police cooperation helped maintain operational response
Despite the chaotic conditions, Greg O’Dwyer stated there were no reported injuries to members of the fire crew. He credited the close cooperation with An Garda Síochána and the efforts of local authorities in managing major events for maintaining an operational response throughout the night.
Firefighter injured after stones thrown at engine
Were there any injuries reported among the fire crews?
No injuries were reported among Dublin Fire Brigade members. However, in County Kildare, one firefighter sustained an injury after a group threw stones and rocks at a fire engine.
What were the primary causes of the high call volume?
Greg O’Dwyer cited a “perfect storm” of factors, including Halloween falling on a dry, mild Saturday night. This weather encouraged the spread of fires and increased the frequency of incidents involving bonfires, house fires, and burning cars.
What specific tactics were used to block emergency responders?
In certain areas of the city, individuals used stolen cars and debris to create barricades. These obstacles were placed to stop fire trucks from getting in.
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