The Ni Executive and Northern Ireland Fire and rescue Service has announced an appeal to Eleventh Night revellers to "think safety first" when attending bonfires.

NIFRS is urging people to "act responsibly and be safe around bonfires" by using the following advice:

• keep the bonfire to a manageable size

• site the bonfire in a clear unenclosed space well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs

• as a guide the distance from the bonfire to the nearest property should be five times the height of the bonfire

• build the stack so that it is stable and will not collapse

• never build a hut or den inside the bonfire



When attending a bonfire:

• do not burn foam-filled furniture, tyres, aerosols, tins of paint or bottles

• responsible adults should look after lighting the bonfire

• before lighting the fire, check that no children or pets are hiding inside it

• never use flammable liquids (petrol or paraffin) to light the fire – use domestic firelighters

• keep everyone away from the fire – especially children, who must be supervised at all times

• for an emergency, keep buckets of water, a garden hose or a fire extinguisher ready

• at any sign of danger or in the event of an emergency, ring Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service on 999 for assistance

(IT/MH)